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Last update - 09:49 01/08/2008
Obama helps U.S. woman fight Palestinian husband for their daughters
By The Associated Press
Tags: israel, west bank 

An American woman fighting to get back four daughters living in the West Bank with their Palestinian father has gotten unusually high-powered help - from Barack Obama.

The U.S. presidential hopeful raised the case of the Chicago-area woman in his meeting with Palestinian leaders last week, and won a promise from Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to look into the matter.

And that's how the private battle between Yasser and Colleen Barghouti, which spans continents and cultures, took a public turn. In separate interviews, the two offered conflicting explanations of what brought the family to Barghouti's home village of Kobar in June 2007.
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It's a village of several thousand people 10 minutes from the city of Ramallah, where Obama met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Fayyad last week.

The girls - 11-year-old Emily, 8-year-old Hannah, 6-year-old Amanda and 5-year-old Sarah - were watching a Jennifer Aniston movie and their aunt was cooking lunch when the U.S. officials arrived for a 70-minute inspection.

Emily told the visitors she misses her mother and wants her parents reunited. "We want to be one family, no matter where we live," she said.

Barghouti said his wife is welcome in the West Bank, but acknowledged he has filed for divorce.

Mrs. Barghouti said she won't return to the West Bank, alleging that during her stay her husband was abusive and once laid two guns on a table, accompanied by a threat to kill her.

Barghouti said he owns no guns and denies threatening his wife.

The couple met in 1993, while he studied in the U.S. and she worked as a waitress. They married a year later, and Barghouti adopted his wife's young son, Rick.

After the family came to Kobar, Barghouti started working for a workers' rights organization.

The family lived in a relative's vacant home in Kobar, and in the fall, Rick and the two older girls attended a private school which, according to its principal, follows a U.S. curriculum.

Mrs. Barghouti said that at one point, she asked to remove the girls from an Islamic religion class after the teacher told them they should wear head scarves. She said her husband complied.

Barghouti said his wife went to the U.S. in November, then came back to Kobar and became increasingly insistent that the family return to Illinois. He said he urged her to make a life in the West Bank.

Many Palestinians believe the West Bank is a decent place to raise children, despite years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. They point to the stability of life in extended families, and contrast it with the greater availability of drugs in American schools.

While life is often disrupted by Israeli army checkpoints, street violence has declined sharply in the last two years.


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      1.   Misleading situation.... 21:44  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      2.   its called `parental kidnapping` 22:20  |  American Attorney 31/07/08
      3.   What bliss for holidays, happily learning arabic 22:44  |  x-ray 31/07/08
      4.   Palestinian Brit, every situation is different 22:57  |  Zev Davis 31/07/08
      5.   Zeev Davis 23:20  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      6.   Laws differ 23:22  |  jackie 31/07/08
      7.   Occupation doesn`t drive us away...N0 3 23:31  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      8.   American Attorney??????? 23:48  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      9.   Jackie 00:05  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      10.   Jackie 00:05  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      11.   it is real, Jewish Palestine and Arab Palestine are good places 00:23  |  z 01/08/08
      12.   Cheap shot from Obama 00:30  |  Ismail 01/08/08
      13.   Palestinian Brit 01:04  |  judith 01/08/08
      14.   Palestinian muslims 01:07  |  cucou 01/08/08
      15.   shades of Elian Gonzalez 01:16  |  Pssd Off American 01/08/08
      16.   Obama should worry 01:17  |  Joe 01/08/08
      17.   It`s the occupation. 01:19  |  Maureen Ann 01/08/08
      18.   Children`s rights to both their parents 01:29  |  Joseph 01/08/08
      19.   Palestinian Brit 9 01:32  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
      20.   Ismail 12 01:34  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
      21.   Again a violent Barghouti name from the terrorist family comes up 02:09  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/08/08
      22.   Never thought I would write supporting pali rights, but 02:12  |  Arie 01/08/08
      23.   to palestinian brit 02:20  |  maya 01/08/08
      24.   scores vow 02:54  |  Shmuelshachor 01/08/08
      25.   LET HIM CONTINUE IN BEING A LAWYER;IT`S THE ONLY THING HE KNOWS; 03:44  |  glenna 01/08/08
      26.   Le Divorce 03:59  |  Aphemia 01/08/08
      27.   #20 ChanahS. About American citizens... 04:01  |  Maureen Ann 01/08/08
      28.   To Palestinian Brit 04:25  |  Elianah 01/08/08
      29.   Palestinian Brit stop BS and look at FACTS 05:13  |  Victor_the_Egyptian 01/08/08
      30.   #17Maureen 05:29  |  Rab Burns 01/08/08
      31.   Pal brit and about many wivesssssss 06:07  |  Victor_the_Egyptian 01/08/08
      32.   Pal Brit ??? 06:25  |  Jake 01/08/08
      33.   Channah S 08:14  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      34.   No 23. So is Jerusalem liberated or occupied? 08:17  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      35.   Victor 08:31  |  Tareq 01/08/08
      36.   American Attorney 09:59  |  Texan Attorney 01/08/08
      37.   To Palestinian Brit #1 10:00  |  S 01/08/08
      38.   jackie 10:03  |  Texan Attorney 01/08/08
      39.   jake 10:06  |  Texan Attorney 01/08/08
      40.   Moron Ann 27 10:08  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
      41.   Victor 10:10  |  Texan Attorney 01/08/08
      42.   Victor the Egyptian (I know your type) 10:10  |  Lambo 01/08/08
      43.   Victor the Egyptian: You lived in Cairo 10:17  |  Lambo 01/08/08
      44.   OBAMA SHOULDN`T PUSH IT TOO FAR 10:25  |  indrajaya 01/08/08
      45.   Maureen Ann 10:39  |  Victoria 01/08/08
      46.   very misleading situation 10:41  |  Victoria 01/08/08
      47.   Pal Brit 11:25  |  Brit Brit 01/08/08
      48.   Pal Brit 33 11:46  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
      49.   Tareq 35 11:48  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
      50.   #1; Palestinian culture doesn`t exist! These girls are American! 12:47  |  Palestiniansareamyth 01/08/08
      51.   What a great opportunity 12:52  |  Sabra 01/08/08
      52.   Sabra.Who brainwashed you? 13:37  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      53.   Do not attack me for my views on Muslim marriage 14:03  |  Jackie 01/08/08
      54.   Parents Need Mediation to Allow Both to See Children 14:14  |  Jane 01/08/08
      55.   Colleen Barghouti Has No Case 15:11  |  Jeff Northridge 01/08/08
      56.   Ah, another case of "Palestinian" justice. 15:26  |  Petra 01/08/08
      57.   Don`t expect help from Israel 15:30  |  Tosefta 01/08/08
      58.   Wisdom of Solomon 15:32  |  Ian 01/08/08
      59.   Don`t expect help from Israel 15:51  |  Tosefta 01/08/08
      60.   OBAMA GETS INVOLVED BECAUSE HE IS BLACK AND KNOWS TOO WELL 15:56  |  indrajaya 01/08/08
      61.   so, now we learn why Obama met with Abbas 16:23  |  Susanna/Shoshana 01/08/08
      62.   55 Jeff Northridge - All Daughters are American 16:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/08/08
      63.   The Palestinians don`t know what they want 16:59  |  Great White North 01/08/08
      64.   58 Indrajaya - Constituent Services 17:15  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/08/08
      65.   Marrying a Philistine.... 17:48  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      66.   Petra # 56 It`s Broader Than That 17:49  |  Jeff Northridge 01/08/08
      67.   Any woman whose husband has been unfaithful.... 17:50  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      68.   Raised as "Christians?" 17:55  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      69.   Slaves.....and Concubines 17:57  |  Palestinian Brit 01/08/08
      70.   indrajaya is right 18:22  |  noor 01/08/08
      71.   Palestinians defend any criminal act 18:28  |  Johnny 01/08/08
      72.   Texan Muslim Attorney, what Sharia Law Madrassa did you go to? 18:32  |  No Attorney 01/08/08
      73.   Palestinian Brit #10 on treatment of multiple wives 18:33  |  Johnny 01/08/08
      74.   Apologies to everyone, Don`t expect help from Abu Mazen 18:40  |  Tosefta 01/08/08
      75.   The hypocrisy of American Attourney 18:42  |  Czarkazem13 01/08/08
      76.   Obama in trap indeed 18:47  |  Czarkazem13 01/08/08
      77.   Jeff Northridge 18:50  |  Chana Washdc 01/08/08
      78.   Palestinian women like to be submissive? 18:51  |  Johnny 01/08/08
      79.   woman fight Palestinian husband 19:04  |  Ralph 01/08/08
      80.   @Indaraja 19:09  |  Ralph 01/08/08
      81.   A more urgent case for Obama 19:31  |  Frank 01/08/08
      82.   Palestinian Brit 20:01  |  Jewlius Rosenberg 01/08/08
      83.   What is the point of all these posts? 20:30  |  Mickey 01/08/08
      84.   NOT a WHIMPER 20:34  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 01/08/08
      85.   Not Without My Daughter...... 20:42  |  Dagma 01/08/08
      86.   they abuse `their` women and children 20:46  |  frenz 01/08/08
      87.   thank victor the egyptian for his principled stance 21:00  |  frenz 01/08/08
      88.   Simple Rules Of Life: Other Peoples Divorces 22:25  |  Gray 01/08/08
      89.   A more urgent case for Obama 22:39  |  Frank 01/08/08
      90.   Thus Spaketh The Prophet (PBUH): 23:22  |  Jeff Northridge 01/08/08
      91.   Religion, Services, Citizenship 00:15  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/08/08
      92.   # Jeff Northridge. I have complaint to make. 02:37  |  Maureen Ann 02/08/08
      93.   Moron Bum,you have your representative in Canberra to complain to 03:35  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      94.   Maybe Obama Can Fix It 03:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/08/08
      95.   Dagma you make 3 or 4 mistakes in one paragraph 03:42  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      96.   #93 GT. You do nothing... 05:23  |  Maureen Ann 02/08/08
      97.   Maureen Ann From Down Under 06:52  |  Jane 02/08/08
      98.   number 34 response 07:11  |  maya 02/08/08
      99.   Moron Bum, report back when you will do the only righteous deed 07:44  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      100.   American Attorney gets disbarred 08:23  |  Palestinian Prince 02/08/08
      101.   American Attorney gets disbarred 08:23  |  Palestinian Prince 02/08/08
      102.   For #50; Semites in Israel are a myth 08:27  |  John McCain 02/08/08
      103.   Tosefta, which Islamic book you been reading? 08:30  |  Palestinian Prince 02/08/08
      104.   To Genuine Tosefta #95 - What`s the big difference? 08:39  |  Dagma 02/08/08
      105.   One More reason as to why All of Israel must remain under Israel 08:53  |  Baruch Gold 02/08/08
      106.   the woman cannot be helped 09:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/08/08
      107.   106 Cipora - Are They Muslim? 10:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/08/08
      108.   #102 AND HANOI JANE HAS 12 MILLION DNAS TO PROVE IT 10:10  |  victor hardman 02/08/08
      109.   To Jane # 97 -` Get off the land shame on you` 10:13  |  Dolly 02/08/08
      110.   Philistine Emir you do not know your books any more 10:21  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      111.   Dagma first let`s get the facts straight 10:38  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      112.   Fakestinian in UK, there is no need to go that far back 10:47  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      113.   Dolly are you getting off your land, talk to Moron Bum about it 10:55  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/08/08
      114.   Palestinian women submissive? 10:56  |  Palestinian Brit 02/08/08
      115.   Genuine Bigot 11:01  |  Palestinian Brit 02/08/08
      116.   Women`s Rights in Islam 11:09  |  Palestinian Brit 02/08/08
      117.   Johnny No 73 11:15  |  Palestinian Brit 02/08/08
      118.   To Lambo # 42 - Try to blend with people of other Faiths. 11:17  |  Natasha 02/08/08
      119.   Yeah ,Dolly 11:40  |  Aliza B 02/08/08
      120.   Hello Dolly! Yes Hello Dolly! 12:23  |  Ramius 02/08/08
      121.   #97 Maureen 12:25  |  Rab Burns 02/08/08
      122.   Women`s rights in Islam 12:30  |  Victoria 02/08/08
      123.   To Jane # 97- - " LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.... 12:57  |  Natasha 02/08/08
      124.   Islam and multiple wives #117 13:35  |  Johnny 02/08/08
      125.   To Pal Brit regarding woman`s rights in Islam 13:49  |  Brit Brit 02/08/08
      126.   Victoria 15:17  |  noor 02/08/08
      127.   Some news on Islamic custody (Palestinian Prince #103) 15:22  |  Tosefta 02/08/08
      128.   Fake Toseftas 15:24  |  Tosefta 02/08/08
      129.   To Jane # 97 Leave your houses and your gardens! 16:28  |  The Truthful One 02/08/08
      130.   Chana Washdc # 77 Thanks For The Correction 16:59  |  Jeff Northridge 02/08/08
      131.   Noor is hard to understand! 17:47  |  utagawa 02/08/08
      132.   #129 The Truthful One 18:44  |  Jane 02/08/08
      133.   Noor 20:31  |  Victoria 02/08/08
      134.   Women and Islam 20:44  |  a woman 02/08/08
      135.   utugawa 21:02  |  noor 02/08/08
      136.   Brit Brit - reality? 21:23  |  Palestinian Brit 02/08/08
      137.   Victoria, please quote honor killings in the quran 21:37  |  noor 02/08/08
      138.   #136 dont shoot the pianist hes only playing the tune 21:38  |  victor hardman 02/08/08
      139.   noor - 135 - so 9/11 was a peace offering, was it? 21:39  |  ChanahS 02/08/08
      140.   Victoria has never been to Iran: turn off fox news 21:45  |  noor 02/08/08
      141.   Palestinian Brit 136 22:19  |  ChanahS 02/08/08
      142.   noor - you seem to have a problem with fox news 22:22  |  ChanahS 02/08/08
      143.   ChanahS here`s all the proof you want 22:33  |  noor 02/08/08
      144.   noor - have you been to Iran? 22:42  |  ChanahS 02/08/08
      145.   Noor 22:43  |  Jazmine 02/08/08
      146.   Noor 23:46  |  Denise 02/08/08
      147.   What are you talking about chanahS? 00:52  |  noor 03/08/08
      148.   ChanahS, you are confusing yourself 00:57  |  noor 03/08/08
      149.   jazmine, what a fool 01:04  |  noor 03/08/08
      150.   chanahS 01:06  |  noor 03/08/08
      151.   noor you are deluding yourself 01:56  |  ChanahS 03/08/08
      152.   Is that what Islam teaches you , noor? 02:32  |  ChanahS 03/08/08
      153.   WARNING 2 By another Westen woman."Fatwa" by Jacky Trevane 02:59  |  PETER SM 03/08/08
      154.   ChanahS, say PALESTINE then 03:22  |  noor 03/08/08
      155.   Did your religion teach you to falsely speak of other religions? 04:37  |  Noor 03/08/08
      156.   Noor we are slowly learning from Islam 06:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/08/08
      157.   Genuine Tosefta 06:42  |  noor 03/08/08
      158.   Tosefta, news to you. Palestinians are not all HANAFI 06:47  |  Palestinian Prince 03/08/08
      159.   NOOR.Islam calling for the death of all Jews by Moslems 07:45  |  PETER SM 03/08/08
      160.   4 wives........... 08:00  |  yuval 03/08/08
      161.   Noor #147 08:04  |  Mickey 03/08/08
      162.   Australia - a haven for women/Shielas? 08:13  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
      163.   Channah S - modernity 08:18  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
      164.   Noor and `Islam teaches not to hurt ones feelings` 08:41  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 03/08/08
      165.   PRO BONO BO Legal Services 08:50  |  PK 03/08/08
      166.   TRACTOR Murderer used to beat his Jewish mistress/wife as well 09:18  |  PETER SM 03/08/08
      167.   you should know all the facts first 08:17  |  Colleen 04/08/08
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