“Marwan al-Barghouti” is a possible agreement option for the head of the Palestinian Authority

The insistence of the Hamas movement on the release of “Marwan al-Barghouthi” from the leaders of the Fatah movement in any prisoner exchange agreement with the Zionist regime, has drawn the attention of experts, so that he is considered as a possible compromise option. They have named Mahmoud Abbas as the head of the self-governing organization.

Recently, Hebrew-language media sources reported that Hamas insists on the release of “Marwan al-Barghouti” in the ongoing negotiations to establish a cease-fire in Gaza. According to these reports, the Palestinian leaders consider al-Barghouti to be the main face of any possible peace negotiations and his release as part of any agreement.

Earlier, the Hebrew language newspaper “Yediot Aharonot” wrote that Hamas insists on the release of three prisoners named Marwan al-Barghouthi, Ahmad Saadat and Abdullah al-Barghouthi in order to sign the future agreement with the Israeli side. On February 18, the management of the Zionist regime’s prisons transferred Marwan Al-Barghouthi from his solitary cell in “Rimonim” prison to solitary cell in “Al-Ramleh” prison.

Of course, this was the second time that al-Barghouthi was transferred from one prison to another, previously in December 2023, he was transferred from “Ofer” prison to a solitary cell in “Ayalon-Al-Ramleh” prison and then to a solitary cell in “Rimonim” prison. ” had been transferred.

Analysts and political experts told BBC Arabic about this insistence of Hamas that Al-Barghouthi, who has been detained in the prisons of the Zionist regime since 2002, may be a “consensual option” to take over the presidency of the Palestinian Authority and prepare to form a new government. If there is an agreement.

Al-Barghouthi was arrested in 2002 on charges of forming the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Battalions, and during this period he was sentenced to life imprisonment five times by the Zionist Court.

“Osame Hamdan”, one of the leaders of the Hamas movement, told the BBC about this: “There is no doubt that a person like Marwan al-Barghouthi has a history of struggles that can confirm his qualification for leadership, and we respect that, but we as a movement in We have not talked about this. Our position is clear, which emphasizes that the Palestinian people will determine their own leadership, and this will happen through elections, in which the Palestinians will decide who will represent them, and everyone should respect this will. let them.
Arab-language political analyst and researcher “Arib al-Rentavi” says about this: Al-Barghouti’s handover to the Palestinian Authority is in danger of completing the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.
Al-Rentavi stated: Al-Barghouthi’s release from prison may be in doubt due to Israel’s use of the “Hannibal” protocol option and the sacrifice of prisoners in order to prevent concessions to the Palestinian resistance. But the internal pressures of the US and Israel make it difficult for Netanyahu to choose this option, and therefore he may be inclined to implement the prisoner exchange agreement.

Talking about the release of Marwan al-Barghouthi and assuming the leadership of the Palestinian Authority is not a new thing and has been raised many times before, for example, in 2009, al-Barghouthi gave a written answer from inside his prison to a question about the possibility A candidate to hold this position in the event of his release wrote: “When national reconciliation is achieved and an agreement is reached to hold elections, I will make the appropriate decision.

Al-Barghouthi also decided to participate in the presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority in 2021, despite being a prisoner, but these elections were not held due to disputes.

According to al-Rentavi, there may be another obstacle on the way to al-Barghouthi’s coming to power, and that is the opposition of the Zionist regime to his release and a number of senior Palestinian leaders.

However, Al-Rentavi says: “I think the resistance will stick to its demand for the release of Marwan and his relatives.”

Zionists also have different opinions about the release of al-Barghouti, and some are in favor and others are against such an event. Some Zionist officials believe that this prominent leader of the Fatah movement may be the best solution for peace, and others say that the one who five times He has been sentenced to life imprisonment, he should never be released.

Why al-Barghouti?
Dr. Tareq Fahmi, head of the Zionist Studies Unit at the Center for West Asia Studies, believes that al-Barghouti is not the only option in the current situation. He says: “Marwan has a history of many struggles, but Israel currently does not allow him to lead the self-governing organization. Other characters may be suggested.”

However, Gina Winstanley, a former senior American diplomat who is now the head of the West Asia Policy Council, believes: “The release of Marwan al-Barghouti will be a strategic step by Israel; Because he is considered a good choice for the Palestinian leadership outside of the Hamas movement.”

In his opinion, for this to happen, there must be a reliable alternative to the self-governing organization. Palestinians must choose their leaders, but Barghouti can be an important part of this leadership.

Al-Rentavi also says in this regard: Al-Barghouthi’s release from prison is in the interest of Hamas; Because he will rebuild the Fatah movement and help revive the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and this will help achieve national reconciliation and create a single authority and leadership for the Palestinian nation. If Israel refuses to release al-Barghouthi, it is unlikely that he will lead the Palestinian Authority from prison.

He added: This idea (leadership of the Palestinian Authority from inside the prison) was proposed in the past, so that the basic system of the Palestinian Authority would be reformed and its president and deputy would be elected together, and Al-Barghouti would head the organization from his prison. and have a deputy outside the prison so that Israel can be pressured for his release.

Al-Rentavi believes: the moderation of al-Barghouti, who has a nationalist and unionist character, has made him popular and acceptable among most Palestinian groups and movements, and today we see that some Arab and non-Arab countries are seriously considering him as an option. considered for the headship of self-governing organizations.

Source: ISNA