Marwan Barghouti

Marwan Barghouti
Barghouti in 2001
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
Assumed office
1996
Personal details
Born (1959-06-06) 6 June 1959 (age 65)
Kobar, Jordanian West Bank
Political partyFatah (before 2005, 2006–present)
Al-Mustaqbal (2005–2006)
SpouseFadwa Barghouti
Children4

Marwan Barghouti (also transliterated al-Barghuthi; Arabic: مروان البرغوثي; born 6 June 1959) is a Palestinian political leader convicted and imprisoned for his role in deadly attacks against Israel.[1] He is regarded as a leader of the First and Second Intifadas. Barghouti at one time supported the peace process, but later became disillusioned after 2000, becoming a leader of Tanzim, a paramilitary offshoot of Fatah.[2][3]

Barghouti was born in the village of Kobar in the West Bank in 1959. At the age of 15, he joined Fatah and co-founded its Youth Movement, and was consequently arrested by Israel three years later. During his four-year first imprisonment, Barghouthi completed his secondary education and gained fluency in Hebrew. In 1983, Barghouti enrolled at the Birzeit University and gained his B.A. in History and Political Science in 1994, earning soon after an M.A. in International Relations in 1998. In 1984, Barghouthi married a fellow student, Fadwa Ibrahim, a prominent advocate for Palestinian prisoners, who later became the leading campaigner for her husband's release during his current imprisonment.

Israeli authorities have called Barghouti a terrorist, accusing him of directing numerous attacks, including suicide bombings, against civilian and military targets alike.[4] Barghouti was arrested by Israel Defense Forces in 2002 in Ramallah.[1] He was tried and convicted on charges of murder, and sentenced to five life sentences. Marwan Barghouti refused to present a defense to the charges brought against him, maintaining throughout that the trial was illegal and illegitimate. Barghouti still exerts great influence in Fatah from within prison.[5] With popularity reaching further than that, there has been some speculation whether he could be a unifying candidate in a bid to succeed Mahmoud Abbas.[6]

In the negotiations over the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Hamas insisted on including Barghouti in the deal with Israel;[7][8] however, Israel was unwilling to concede to that demand. Despite initial reports that he was going to be released in the 11 October 2011 deal between Israel and Hamas, it was soon denied by Israeli sources.[9][10] In November 2014, Barghouti urged the Palestinian Authority to immediately end security cooperation with Israel and called for a Third Intifada against Israel.[11]

  1. ^ a b "Profile: Marwan Barghouti". BBC News. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  2. ^ Anthony H. Cordesman (2006). Arab-Israeli Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars. Praeger Security International. p. 315. ISBN 0-275-99186-5.
  3. ^ Bahaa, Sherine (18–24 April 2002). "Israel's enemy number one". Al-Ahram Weekly. No. 582. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. ^ "Marwan Barghouti Indictment". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 14 August 2002. Archived from the original on 5 July 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  5. ^ "An interview with Marwan Barghouti". IMEU. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  6. ^ Mort, Jo-Ann (14 August 2009). "Why a Jailed Dissident Is Palestine's Best Hope". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009.
  7. ^ Nahmias, Roee (22 July 2008). "Report: Israel refuses to release Ahmad Saadat". Ynetnews. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Labor minister: Israel must consider freeing Fatah victor Barghouti". Haaretz. Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  9. ^ Benari, Elad (12 October 2011). "Sbarro Female Terrorist Among Those Freed". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ^ Keinon, Herb (11 October 2011). "Marwan Barghouti won't be released in deal, officials say". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  11. ^ Bacchi, Umberto (11 November 2014). "Jailed Palestinian Leader Marwan Barghouti Calls for Third Intifada Against Israel". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 June 2024.