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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel working on three-way release deal
2004-11-15
Israeli news reports said that international contacts are being currently made with sides concerned in an attempt to conclude a tripartite deal, according to which Israel will release the Palestinian jailed prisoner Marwan Barghouthi, the secretary of the Palestinia national liberation movement, Fatah, in order to nominate himself in the Palestinian presidential elections.
Bwahahahaha!!
The Israeli TV said that the deal includes releasing Barghouthi for a first round draft choice the US release of Jonathan Pollard and Egypt's release of the Israeli spy Azzam Azzam and a infidel to be named later. Lawyer Fadwa Barghouthi, wife of Marwan Barghouthi was quoted as saying that her husband intends to nominate himself in the context of Fatah movement to compete for the Presidency of the Palestinian authority, noting that Marwan will not compete for this post if Fatah will elect another candidate.
Another pretender to the throne, obviously a devious zionist plot to throw the Paleostiniens into turmoil. Excellent!
Posted by:Steve

#10  ..that its hypocritical to ask Israel to release those who have committed asks of violence to "turn over a new leaf" while Pollard is not given the same chance.

All the more reason for us to stay out of their business. All of the pressuring done by U.S. officials for concessions of one kind or another can't be expected to be a one-way street, and it would be a Good Thing if GWB and his staff understand that.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-11-15 4:46:26 PM  

#9  How about Ron Arad in lieu of Pollard?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-15 3:14:27 PM  

#8  I think Israel should trade down for a second-tier terrorist, or possibly a Terrorist To Be Named Later. With the salary cap constraints the Israelis are currently up against, they should keep Bargouti, and may have to forgo a marque scumbag like Pollard.
Posted by: reality check   2004-11-15 2:14:05 PM  

#7  to BAR - there is a substantial constituency in Israel that believes that Pollard was shafted, and got an unreasonable sentence, and moreover, that its hypocritical to ask Israel to release those who have committed asks of violence to "turn over a new leaf" while Pollard is not given the same chance. His release could assuage Israelis who would otherwise object to the release of someone like Bargouti. As for why the US and Egypt would want to see Bargouti released, it would be to show how helpful they are to the Pals - for Egypt thats valuable domestically and in its attempt to lead the arab world, and to have influence over the Pals. For the US thats helpful in the GWOT and for helping Blair, etc, etc.

I agree however that these benefits do not offset the considerable costs, and it wont happen.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-11-15 1:52:40 PM  

#6  GWB has been as good an ally to Israel as they could have expected. The least they could do in return is to permanently drop the Pollard matter. Pollard is on ice, and should stay that way until he croaks.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-11-15 1:44:56 PM  

#5  I'm afraid this is a non-starter. Pollard isn't going to be released -- too politically sensitive.

If he were held in an arab country, things would be different. But the US doesn't bargain over such highly visible goings-on. The political backlash, and the "Jews-control-the-government" backlash would be enormous.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2004-11-15 1:44:47 PM  

#4  This deal makes no sense for the US or Egypt. Why should they give a damn about this guy? Man 'A' offers Man 'B' $5, but only if Man 'C' and Man 'D' each give him, Man 'A', $10.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2004-11-15 1:43:51 PM  

#3  So should Bargouti.
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-11-15 1:29:02 PM  

#2  Pollard should have been shot.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2004-11-15 1:18:59 PM  

#1  1. Mo Dahlan, who supports Abu Mazen as Fatah candidate, says today that Bargouti does too, and will NOT run himself. One wonders how Dahlan can speak for Bargouti, but Dahlan claims to be a close friend of Bargouti. Probably BS, but we will see.
2. There have been rumors from time to time that Israel had imprisoned Bargouti with the deliberate purpose of increasing his "street cred" among pals, seeing him as more pragmatic than the Pal "old guard". This would be quite a riff on that theme, if they were releasing him to play his role, and trying to get Azzam and Pollard into the bargain!!!
3. This is a delicate time for Bush with the CIA, etc - i cant see Bush ruffling things further by releasing Pollard - not to get Bargouti.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-11-15 1:10:38 PM  

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