Sunday, January 06, 2008

Israeli Politicians Line Up for Barghouti's Release from Jail

Hillel Fendel

Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai and former Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer say Marwan Barghouti, responsible for the murder of more than 30 Israelis, is a strong leader for the Palestinian Authority and should be freed from prison.
Ben-Eliezer, a former Labor Party Chairman and Defense Minister who now serves as Infrastructures Minister, says he will "fight for Barghouti's release."

Matan Vilnai of Labor, a former Deputy IDF Chief of Staff and currently the Deputy Defense Minister, has been saying for weeks that he supports release for the imprisoned murderer Marwan Barghouti. It was also reported some six weeks ago that former Defense Minister Amir Peretz had visited Barghouti in prison twice in the preceding weeks.

Serving Five Life Sentences for Murder
Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002, having been found guilty of organizing three terrorist attacks in which five Israelis were murdered, and of planning a fourth attack. He was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years. Barghouti was acquitted at the time of over 20 other murders carried out at his behest, with the court finding that the evidence showed only his indirect involvement in those murders.

Staffers in the Prime Minister's Office said that Barghouti's release is not on the agenda. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter of Kadima said as well that Barghouti "has much blood on his hands and must remain in prison until his last day."

Barghouti, when and if he leaves prison, is slated to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as leader of the Fatah-headed Palestinian Authority. The Hamas terrorist group is also demanding the release of Barghouti, with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal hinting that Shalit would not be returned to Israel as long as Barghouti is still in Israeli prison.

Preparing a Deal for Shalit
Israel's government is planning a list of 400-600 terrorist prisoners it will offer to release in exchange for captive hostage soldier Gilad Shalit. Speaking Sunday morning with Army Radio, Ben-Eliezer said that if he sees that Barghouti's name is not on the list, "I plan to fight to make sure his name is put on it."

Asked why, Ben-Eliezer said, "On the other side of our negotiating table with the Palestinians, I want to see a dependable leader who will be able to come through on whatever he promises." Ben-Eliezer was referring to the convicted terrorist Barghouti.

Barghouti was Released Twice Before - and Returned to Terrorism
The Almagor Terror Victims Association notes that Barghouti has already been freed from Israeli prison twice before - only to be returned to prison each time for even more heinous crimes and murders. He was originally arrested in 1976; after his release (under unknown circumstances, Almagor states), he was one of the initiators and leaders of the first intifada that began in late 1987. He was ultimately arrested and banished to Jordan, where he remained for seven years. He was allowed into Judea and Samaria in 1994 in the framework of the Oslo Accords, after promising not to revert to terrorism.

In 1996, he became a PA legislator and the General Secretary of Fatah - which perpetrated many murderous terror attacks over the next several years. He was finally arrested for the last time (as of now) during Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002.

Comment: It is this kindof "leadership" that is leading Israel down disaster's lane!!.

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