Ma’an: Fatah’s Marwan Barghouthi may be feed in Gilad Shalit swap deal

Report: Marwan Barghouthi to be released ‘within days’

Date: 15 / 02 / 2009  Time:  21:33

Jerusalem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israel is inching closer to the release of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is sentenced to five life terms for his activities with the Al-Aqsa Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing, during the second Intifada. Khader Shuqeirat, one of Barghuthi’s lawyers, told Israel’s Channel Ten that “It is a matter of days until Marawan will be free.” “No prisoner swap will be held without Marawan,” said Shuqeirat, “Marawan will be with his family, wife and children within days.” Israeli analyst Tsivika Yehezkili said that “many sides in Israel are considering and seriously proposing Marwan’s release as a good will gesture to President Abbas “ Channel Ten reported that other sources close to Barghouthi said that “the moment of his release is getting closer each day.” Israel’s top leaders agreed on Sunday to formulate a proposal involving the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and a truce with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni have agreed to hold additional talks on the proposal, and could put the proposal up for a vote in the cabinet as early as Wednesday, the website of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. Amid reports of progress in Egyptian-brokered ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, Israel announced on Saturday that it is insisting on the release of Shalit as a part of any truce deal. It is unclear whether this means a prisoner exchange will also be a part of the truce. Another possibility, raised by Israeli analysts, is that Israel could free Barghouthi as a unilateral gesture to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Sunday, the official spokesperson of Hamas’ armed wing, Abu Ubaida, issued a statement saying that Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since 2006, would not be handed over without the release of Palestinian prisoners Abbas As-Said, Abdallah Barghouti, and Ibrahim Hamad, all of whom are accused of plotting attacks inside Israel. Hamas has insisted on the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, including Barghouthi and other high profile leaders, such as PFLP Secretary-General Ahmad Sadat.