NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Marwan Barghouti

Marwan Bin Khatib Barghouti ( مروان البرغوثي born June 6, 1959) is a Palestinian leader from the West Bank and a leader of the Fatah movement. He is considered to be the leader of Fatah's 'young guard', and is renowned for his unparalleled grassroots popularity and pragmaticism with regards to making peace with the state of Israel. He is currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail for murder and attempted murder. During prisoner negotiations at the end of 2006, Hamas demanded his release, along with many other Palestinians imprisoned for terrorism, in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.[2] Image File history File links Marwan-barghouti. ... Image File history File links Marwan-barghouti. ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ... Cpl. ...

Biography

Barghouti was born in Ramallah, and became active in Fatah at the age of 15. Marwan Barghouti should not be confused with fellow Palestinian political figure Mustafa Barghouti, a distant cousin. By the age of 18 in 1976, Marwan Barghouti was arrested by Israel for his involvement in Palestinian resistance groups, and learned Hebrew during his time in Israeli prisons. After his release, he returned to the West Bank and became president of the student body at Birzeit University, where he received a bachelor's degree in history and political science and a master's degree in international relations. He is married to Fadwa Barghouti,a lawyer. Ramallah (Arabic: ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank of approximately 57,000 residents. ... Mustafa Barghouti Mustafa Barghouti (also often written Mustafa Barghouthi, Mustafa Al Barghuthi, Dr Barghuthi; born 1954) is a Palestinian democracy activist. ... â€œHebrewâ€ redirects here. ... This article should belong in one or more categories. ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

First Intifada

Barghouti was one of the major leaders of the First Intifada in 1987, leading Palestinians in a mass uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank. During the uprising, he was arrested by Israel and deported to Jordan, where he stayed for seven years until he was permitted to return under the terms of the Oslo Accords in 1994. In 1996, he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council, following which he began his active advocacy of peace with Israel. He was also a strong campaigner against the corruption festering in the Fatah movement, sometimes coming in conflict with Yasser Arafat. The formal position occupied by Barghouti was Secretary-General of Fatah in the West Bank. The First Intifada, or Palestinian uprising refers to a series of violent incidents between Palestinians and Israelis between 1987 and approximately 1990. ... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... The Palestinian Legislative Council, (sometimes referred to to as the Palestinan Parliament) the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 88 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. ... Not to be confused with Yasir Arafat (cricketer). ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ...

By the summer of 2000, Barghouti and Arafat had grown increasingly at odds with each other, with Barghouti accusing Arafat's administration of corruption and his security services of human rights violations, and Arafat was planning to fire him shortly.

Second Intifada

However, as the Second Intifada began, Barghouti became increasingly popular as a leader of the Fatah Tanzim militia, seen as one of the major forces in the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation. Following suicide bombings carried out in Israel by some members of the Tanzim, under the name al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Barghouti dissociated himself, condemning the targeting of Israeli civilians inside the Green Line, whilst making plain his belief that attacks should be directed at Israeli civilians in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Jerusalem, as well as the Israeli military.^[1]^[2] For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Tanzim (Organization in Arabic) is a faction of the Palestinian al-Fatah movement. ... A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (ÙƒØªØ§Ø¦Ø¨ Ø´Ù‡Ø¯Ø§Ø¡ Ø§Ù„Ø£Ù‚ØµÙ‰) are a Palestinian armed terrorist group closely linked to the Fatah party. ... Israels 1949 Green Line (dark green) and demilitarized zones (light green). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

Arrest

Barghouti's actions landed him on their most-wanted list, and he escaped an Israeli assassination attempt in 2001. However, he was arrested by the Israeli army in Ramallah, on April 15, 2002 and transferred to the 'Russian Compound' police station in Jerusalem. Several months later, he was indicted in civilian court on charges of murder and attempted murder stemming from terrorist activities carried out by the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.^[3]^[4] Ramallah (Arabic: ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank of approximately 57,000 residents. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Trial

Israel chose to try Barghouti in an Israeli civilian court, rather than a military court as Israel generally does with Palestinians. What constitutes a military tribunal varies according to nation and sometimes even military branch and regional jurisdiction. ...

Marwan Barghouti refused to present a defense to the charges brought against him, maintaining throughout that the trial was illegal and illegitimate. However, he continued to stress that he supported armed resistance to the Israeli occupation, but condemned attacks on civilians over the Green Line. The Golan Heights plateau overlooking the site of the ancient city of Hippos The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. ... In times of armed conflict a civilian is any person who is not a combatant. ... Israels 1949 Green Line (dark green) and demilitarized zones (light green). ...

He was convicted on May 20, 2004 of five counts of murder, resulting from three attacks, one north of Jerusalem, one in Tel Aviv and one in the West Bank. He was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder resulting from a failed suicide car bomb. He was acquitted of 21 counts of murder in 33 other attacks. On June 6, 2004, he was sentenced to five life sentences for the five murders and 40 years imprisonment for the attempted murder. is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Candidacy for Palestinian Authority presidency

In late 2004, Barghouti announced from his Israeli prison his intention to run in the Palestinian Authority presidential election in January 2005, called for following the death of President Yasser Arafat in November. The 2005 Palestinian presidential election â€” the first to be held since 1996 â€” took place on January 9, 2005 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. ... Not to be confused with Yasir Arafat (cricketer). ...

On November 26, 2004, it appeared he would withdraw from the contest following pressure from the Fatah faction to support the candidacy of Mahmoud Abbas. However, just before the deadline on December 1, Barghouti's wife registered him as an independent candidate. is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: ) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known by the kunya Abu Mazen (Ø§Ø¨Ùˆ Ù…Ø§Ø²Ù†), was elected President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005, and took office on January 15, 2005. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On December 12, facing pressure from Fatah to withdraw in favor of Abbas, he chose to abandon his candidacy for the benefit of Palestinian unity. is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti

Since Barghouti's abduction from Ramallah on 15th April 2002, many of his supporters, Palestinian and otherwise, have campaigned for his release. They include prominent Palestinian figures, members of European Parliament and the Israeli peace bloc. Some focus on the illegality of Bargouti's arrest, pointing to his diplomatic immunity as a member of the Palestinian Parliament, as well as to the fact that he was arrested in an area over which Israel has no jurisdiction. They also point out that the transfer of a prisoner from an occupied territory to the territory of the occupier is in contravention of the 4th Geneva Convention. Another approach is to suggest that Israel's freeing of Barghouti would be an excellent show of good faith in the peace process. This view gained popularity among the Israeli left after the 2005 Gaza Disengagement. Still others, operating from a realpolitik perspective, have pointed out that allowing Barghouti to re-enter Palestinian politics could serve to bolster Fatah against gains in Hamas' popularity.[3] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 88 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. ... Not to be confused with the Spanish name Garza or the Egyptian town of Giza. ... Israels unilateral disengagement plan (Hebrew: ×ª×•×›× ×™×ª ×”×”×ª× ×ª×§×•×ª Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or ×ª×›× ×™×ª ×”×”×™× ×ª×§×•×ª Tokhnit HaHinatkut in the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law), also known as the Disengagement plan, Gaza Pull-Out plan, and Hitnatkut) was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government and enacted in August 2005, to remove all... Realpolitik (German: real (realistic, practical or actual) and Politik (politics)) is a term that is synonomous to Machiavellianism and is used to describe politics based on strictly practical rather than ideological notions, and practiced without any sentimental illusions. Realpolitik is usually used pejoratively as a term to imply politics imposed... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ...

Following Barghouti's January 2006 re-election to the Palestinian Legislative Council, a debate over Barghouti's fate began anew in Israel, ranging from Yahad leader and former MK Yossi Beilin's support for a Presidential pardon to the total refusal of any idea of early release. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said, Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Palestinian Legislative Council, (sometimes referred to to as the Palestinan Parliament) the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 88 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. ... Yossi Beilin Dr. Yossef (Yossi) Beilin (Hebrew: ; born June 12, 1948) is an Israeli politician, Knesset member, and a former , deputy foreign minister and justice minister within the Israeli Labour Party. ... Silvan Shalom Silvan Shalom â–¶(?) (Hebrew ×¡×™×œ×‘×Ÿ ×©×œ×•×) (born 1958) is an Israeli politician and current Foreign Minister of Israel, having been appointed in 2003 by the current Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. ...

However several MKs, including Kadima MK Meir Sheetrit, have suggested that Barghouti will likely be released as part of future peace negotiations, although they did not specify when. Meir Sheetrit (born 1948) is an Israeli politician serving as a member of the Knesset. ...

In January 2007, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres declared that he would sign a presidential pardon for Marwan Barghouti if elected to the Israeli presidency.

Split from Fatah

On December 14, 2005, Barghouti announced that he had formed a new political party, al-Mustaqbal ("The Future"), mainly composed of members of Fatah's "Young Guard", who have repeatedly expressed frustration with the entrenched corruption in the party. The list, which was presented to the Palestinian Authority's central elections committee on December 14 includes Mohammed Dahlan, Kadoura Fares, Samir Mashharawi and Jibril Rajoub.[6][7] is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marwan Barghouti, locked up in an Israeli prison, leads the new party Al-Mustaqbal are a new Palestinian Arab political party launched in December 2005, headed by Marwan Barghouti. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mohammed Dahlan is a Palestinian, born in 1961 in a refugee camp in Khan Younis. ... Qadura Fares is a Palestinian Authority minister. ... Jibril Rajoub was Yasir Arafats National Security Advisor, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council. ...

The split followed Barghouti's earlier refusal of Mahmoud Abbas' offer to be second on the Fatah party's parliamentary list, behind Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. Barghouti had actually topped the list,[8] but this had not become apparent until after the new party had been registered. Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: ) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known by the kunya Abu Mazen (Ø§Ø¨Ùˆ Ù…Ø§Ø²Ù†), was elected President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005, and took office on January 15, 2005. ... Ahmed Qurei (Abu Alaa) Ahmed Ali Mohammed Qurei (or Qureia; Ø§ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø¹Ù„ÙŠ Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ù‚Ø±ÙŠØ¹), also known by his Arabic Kunya Abu Alaa (Ø£Ø¨Ùˆ Ø¹Ù„Ø§Ø¡) (born March 26, 1937) was prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. ...

Reactions to the news was split. Some suggested that the move was a positive step towards peace, as Barghouti's new party could help reform major problems in Palestinian government. Others raised concern that it could wind up splitting the Fatah vote, inadvertently helping Hamas. Barghouti's supporters argued that al-Mustaqbal would split the votes of both parties, both from disenchanted Fatah members as well as moderate Hamas voters who do not agree with Hamas' political goals, but rather its social work and hard position on corruption. Some observers also hypothesized that the formation of al-Mustaqbal was mostly a negotiating tactic to get members of the young guard into higher positions of power within Fatah and its electoral list.

Barghouti eventually was convinced that the idea of leading a new party, especially one that was created by splitting from Fatah, would be unrealistic while he was still in prison. Instead he stood as a Fatah candidate in the January 2006 PLC elections, comfortably regaining his seat in the Palestinian Parliament. PLC may stand for: Palestinian Legislative Council, law-making body of the Palestinian Authority Parti LibÃ©ral du Canada, the term in French for the Liberal Party of Canada Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (or Constitutional Liberal Party), a major political party in Nicaragua Phospholipase C Platoon Leaders Class Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth... The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 88 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. ...

The National Conciliation Document of the Prisoners

On 11th May 2006, prominent Palestinian leaders held in Israeli prisons released the National Conciliation Document of the Prisoners. The document was a proposal initiated by Marwan Barghouti and leaders of Hamas, PFLP, Islamic Jihad and DFLP that proposed a basis upon which a coalition government should be formed in the Palestinian Legislative Council. This came as a result of the political stalemate in the Palestinian territories that followed Hamas' election to the PLC in January 2006. Crucially, the document also called for negotiation with the state of Israel in order to achieve lasting peace. The document quickly gained popular currency and is now considered the bedrock upon which a national unity government should be achieved. Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (Arabic Al-Jabhah al-Shabiyyah Li-Tahrir Filastin الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين) is a secular, Marxist-Leninist, nationalist Palestinian... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: â€Ž, Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a terrorist Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ... The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (Al-Jabhah al-Dimuqratiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin) is a Marxist-Leninist organization, which was founded in 1969 when it split from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). ... The Palestinian Legislative Council, (sometimes referred to to as the Palestinan Parliament) the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 88 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. ... This article is about the Palestinian territories as a geopolitical phenomenon. ...

Involvement in Unity Government negotiations

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Barghouti, although not officially represented in the negotiations of a Palestinian unity government in February 2007, has played a major role in mediating between Hamas and Fatah and formulating the compromise that was reached on February 8, 2007.article Haaretz (Hebrew: (helpÂ· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ...

Quotes

External links and references

^ Interview with Marwan Barghouti When asked towards which civilians were legitimate targets for armed resistance, he clarified: No, no…everybody in the West Bank and Gaza—including Jerusalem, because it’s an occupied territory—they are occupation.
^ Barghouti wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post on January 16, 2002, saying, And while I, and the Fatah movement to which I belong, strongly oppose attacks and the targeting of civilians inside Israel, (emphasis added) our future neighbour, I reserve the right to protect myself, to resist the Israeli occupation of my country and to fight for my freedom.-- cited at [1]
^ Full indictment, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
^ Indictment appendix listing all charges

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