Israel could consider the release of jailed West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said yesterday in an interview on public television. âIf the peace process continues and if we actually reach peace, we can start considering the release of political leaders such as Marwan Barghouti,â a chief of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafatâs Fatah group, Lapid said. He nevertheless ruled out Barghoutiâs release in the near future, especially if the Fatah firebrand was proved âto have been involved in the killingsâ of Israelis.
That's a relief. When peace comes, Marwan can go back to the bosom of his mob organization family. But not before, I hope. And if he dies of old age first, that's too bad... |
The man widely perceived as the inspiration behind the 34-month-old Palestinian uprising against Israel is accused of âheading a terrorist organizationâ and charged with 26 counts of murder. The Israeli Army captured Barghouti in April 2002 in the West Bank city of Ramallah and he first appeared before an Israeli court in September 2002. |