Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., July 19, 2008 Tamuz 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:33 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 09:56 21/06/2007
Free Barghouti
By Haaretz Editorial

One of the leaders of the Palestinian people has been incarcerated for approximately five years now in Hadarim Prison, in central Israel. The time has come to release him. For years, Marwan Barghouti has tried to persuade Israelis to end the occupation through negotiation. He has gone from one Israeli party headquarters to the next, meeting with politicians across the political spectrum. He tried to persuade them in order to preempt the next confrontation.

Barghouti failed, the second intifada broke out, and he himself turned to the path of violent struggle. After going underground for months, during which he still tried to address the Israeli public through its own media, Barghouti was arrested in April 2002 and prosecuted. He was sentenced for five life terms in prison, plus 40 years.

It is doubtful whether arresting and prosecuting him was diplomatically wise, but there is no doubting the political wisdom of releasing him.
Advertisement
During his years in prison, Barghouti has acted to restrain the armed struggle and bolster his people's moderate leadership, using envoys to achieve this goal. Barghouti never left his native West Bank, never took to the habits of power characteristic of the Palestine Liberation Organization leadership in Tunisia. He became a popular leader - especially in the West Bank, and to a lesser degree in the Gaza Strip.

Modern history - including Israel's - has known national leaders who turned to violence and were jailed for years, until they were released to become political leaders who marched their peoples toward independence peacefully. Nelson Mandela is one such example. The leaders of the Zionist undergrounds in prestate Israel are another. Now, Barghouti's turn has come. Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra deserves praise for speaking in favor of releasing Barghouti. Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer did not rule out the possibility either.

Fatah's moderate leadership is in a serious crisis. Israel's interest calls for its consolidation, albeit after outrageous delays, and no one matches Barghouti's ability to achieve that. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's promises in Washington that Israel would be willing to take "far-reaching" measures to assist the Palestinian Authority's emergency government must be backed by immediate action. Releasing prisoners is the first step one should demand of anyone who promises such steps.

The Israeli government should have long since helped Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to govern his people. Among other measures, it should have done this by allowing him to bring home real achievements. Releasing prisoners, Barghouti among them, could serve to change the atmosphere between Israel and the Palestinians in a heartbeat. It would prove the sincerity of Israel's statements regarding its intention to turn over a new leaf and bolster the moderate forces. The issue of prisoners who have been jailed for years holds extreme importance for Palestinian society. Any Palestinian leader who would succeed in bringing about their release will receive instant and widespread public sympathy.

The prime minister's statements must not remain empty words - especially not now, when a practical opportunity for dialogue with a moderate Palestinian leadership has presented itself. Now that Gaza has fallen into Hamas' hands, no effort should be spared in the attempt to salvage the West Bank from extremists. Barghouti as a free leader could greatly assist in achieving that.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Farewell ambassador
Even the Arab envoys came to say goodbyeto Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman.
A tale of two mothers
Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.
  1.   Free Barghouti - the Murderer 10:17  |  Yitzhak 21/06/07
  2.   Barghouti and Amira Hass 10:23  |  Michelle Q. 21/06/07
  3.   "palestinian people" dont exist: Barghouti is just a criminal 10:32  |  Arel 21/06/07
  4.   Send Bargouti to Sderot - Let the Amcha deal with him! 10:40  |  Not a Tsfoni 21/06/07
  5.   MANDELA WAS NOT A TERRORIST SERIAL MURDERER ?? 10:49  |  Bill. 21/06/07
  6.   Barghouti 10:53  |  Gabe 21/06/07
  7.   LEFTIST SECULAR HUMANISTIC MADNESS TO RELEASE MURDERER BARGHOUTI 10:57  |  Bill. 21/06/07
  8.   Reply to Yitzhak (Post No. 1) 10:58  |  Johnny Weintraub 21/06/07
  9.   THE TIME HAS COME TO REMOVE MURDERING TERRORIST ISLAM FROM ISRAEL 11:00  |  Bill. 21/06/07
  10.   Barghouti 11:03  |  Baruch Nili 21/06/07
  11.   if the best solution to deal with terrorist is to release other.. 11:05  |  don 21/06/07
  12.   Pollard first 11:11  |  Lila 21/06/07
  13.   Let the liitle man go 11:25  |  Big Al 21/06/07
  14.   the wrong barghouti 11:37  |  raymond deane 21/06/07
  15.   Haaretz 11:40  |  j10 21/06/07
  16.   # 1 to yitzhak 11:54  |  eric 21/06/07
  17.   Terrorist 11:57  |  Joseba 21/06/07
  18.   #16 ERIC NAMES THE KILLERS FROM THE PAST ?? 12:05  |  paul harris 21/06/07
  19.   Keep Barghouti 12:06  |  Natallie Durson 21/06/07
  20.   Does Haaretz also want to free Yigal Amir 12:09  |  David Stoler 21/06/07
  21.   A FLEXIBILITY OF THE WORD OF "TERRORIST" 12:19  |  indrajaya 21/06/07
  22.   Its time to execute Barghouti ,with most of the prisoners 12:19  |  Sal 21/06/07
  23.   Shamir and Begin were also terrorists 12:28  |  Danny 21/06/07
  24.   The Israel Factor 12:32  |  Sidney Gendin 21/06/07
  25.   Release Barghouti - for self interest 12:32  |  SD 21/06/07
  26.   It`s time to release Gilad Shalit 12:34  |  christoph 21/06/07
  27.   BARGHOUTI IS NO NELSON MANDELA 12:37  |  John Atkinson 21/06/07
  28.   April fools day!!!!!! wait a moment... 12:39  |  izzy d 21/06/07
  29.   #19, Durson 12:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/06/07
  30.   # 25, SD 12:58  |  indrajaya 21/06/07
  31.   Barghouti, Begin, Shamir 13:04  |  Nahman Umani 21/06/07
  32.   Is this article a bad joke? 13:07  |  Johnny 21/06/07
  33.   correction 13:31  |  christoph 21/06/07
  34.   If it was Amos Schocken&Co he targetted he`d be in jail forever 13:33  |  Absolute Sweden 21/06/07
  35.   Free Marwan Barghouti! 13:37  |  Ben Alofs 21/06/07
  36.   Free Barghouti 13:41  |  Dan R 21/06/07
  37.   Because editorials like this from Haaretz... 13:59  |  GF 21/06/07
  38.   Ha`aretz Working for The Israeli Right? 14:02  |  Yoram 21/06/07
  39.   FREE BARGHOUTI 14:19  |  JACOBSON 21/06/07
  40.   Fatah / Hamas in control ? 14:19  |  Jim Lindsey 21/06/07
  41.   PINNING HOPES ON AN INDIVIDUAL AGAIN 14:21  |  Ian 21/06/07
  42.   Barghouti is most useful serving his sentence to his end. 14:22  |  Uzi 21/06/07
  43.   releasing murderers 14:30  |  Paul C Pottash 21/06/07
  44.   Double standard 14:33  |  Mitch Cohen 21/06/07
  45.   # 41, IAN 14:34  |  indrajaya 21/06/07
  46.   #22 Time to execute terrorists? 14:38  |  Rebekah S 21/06/07
  47.   About time too. 14:38  |  Nick Ferriman 21/06/07
  48.   Barghouti is Honest 15:16  |  Zionest forever 21/06/07
  49.   Isn`t "there" anything better? 15:29  |  Carles 21/06/07
  50.   New poll:Barghouti would win 59-42% against Haniya 15:33  |  Alfonso Guiterrez 21/06/07
  51.   Even by Israeli Court standards he did not get 15:38  |  Don Camillo 21/06/07
  52.   FREEING BARGHOUTI 15:42  |  Mitchell 21/06/07
  53.   Zionest ??? forever 15:49  |  Avrum 21/06/07
  54.   THE TIME HAS COME TO FREE GILAD SHALIT .. 15:49  |  Miriam 21/06/07
  55.   he cant even rule 3 persons now ! AND HE WONT BE FREE 15:53  |  Atilla Liman 21/06/07
  56.   Free Barghouti now, in the middle of Gaza City 15:53  |  Mauro V Mendlowicz 21/06/07
  57.   Mitch Cohen and Nick Ferriman 15:56  |  Chaval 21/06/07
  58.   Repeat from earlier in the week. 15:56  |  Avrum 21/06/07
  59.   Barghouti sort of moderate 15:58  |  Paul Freedman 21/06/07
  60.   If it will bring peace-free him 15:59  |  Murray of Montreal 21/06/07
  61.   BERGHOUTI SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ILLEGALLY DETAINED 16:04  |  Patriot 21/06/07
  62.   Sheer Nonsense! 16:11  |  Dennis M Starkman 21/06/07
  63.   #45 indrajaya :o) 16:14  |  Murray of Montreal 21/06/07
  64.   Hamas and Abbas, same goal, the destruction of Israel 16:21  |  maurice 21/06/07
  65.   Haaretz needs a check up from the neck up. 16:21  |  Chaim 21/06/07
  66.   BARGHOUTI SHMARGOUTI 16:28  |  MG 21/06/07
  67.   Chaim ! Please ! I make the jokes here :( 16:39  |  A.L.K. 21/06/07
  68.   When he has completed his five life sentences for five murders 16:42  |  Briton 21/06/07
  69.   Read Pal poll article before reading your Editorial. 16:44  |  J.M.Jordan 21/06/07
  70.   Haaretz like most observers have missed one salient fact... 16:55  |  bat yam 21/06/07
  71.   Better free Barghouti NOW 17:01  |  Tosefta 21/06/07
  72.   Yes Leniency - Commute one of his life sentences 17:08  |  Chicago 21/06/07
  73.   61. No - he fought to destroy Israel 17:12  |  Chicago 21/06/07
  74.   The big bad wolf 17:13  |  Daniel 21/06/07
  75.   TO THE HAARETZ LEFT A MURDERER IS A MODERATE! 17:23  |  Ben Avraham 21/06/07
  76.   Vision 17:25  |  Baz Mann 21/06/07
  77.   Haaretz should be indicted by the AG for incitement against Jews 17:30  |  pace306 21/06/07
  78.   FOR HAARETZ 87 YEARS OF FAILURE WITH ARABS IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE!! 17:31  |  paul harris 21/06/07
  79.   A very wise suggestion, Editors of Haaretz! 17:35  |  Walt Schweitzer 21/06/07
  80.   Free Barghouti 17:38  |  Mostafa 21/06/07
  81.   Discussion could be irrelevant 17:44  |  Jackie 21/06/07
  82.   free Yigal Amir too 17:47  |  Hebert Kaine 21/06/07
  83.   The time to free Barghouti 17:48  |  Yakov 21/06/07
  84.   Never free Barghouti # 80 17:50  |  Abushanab 21/06/07
  85.   "FREE BARRABAS". 17:55  |  Scott Hunter 21/06/07
  86.   SINCE BARGUTTI FAILED TO END OCCUPATION,WHY RELEASE THE MURDERER? 18:25  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 21/06/07
  87.   #12 Forget it; the weasel will remain in jail! 18:28  |  ballistic 21/06/07
  88.   Barghouti should be free to go to one of the 22 Arab countries 18:38  |  Jake 21/06/07
  89.   #19 Natalie re Pollard 18:39  |  ballistic 21/06/07
  90.   The Left likes "Free", all pay the cost 18:42  |  Hudson 21/06/07
  91.   #37 GF---you say you cancelled your daily 18:43  |  ballistic 21/06/07
  92.   #42 Say Uzi 18:45  |  ballistic 21/06/07
  93.   Free barghouti ? No way 18:58  |  paulo2005 21/06/07
  94.   Please Post my Response to Your Shameful Editorial Re Barghouti 19:01  |  Tod Zuckerman 21/06/07
  95.   Your editorial is right on 19:11  |  Binyamin 21/06/07
  96.   Free 19:11  |  Shmuelshachor 21/06/07
  97.   Joseba #17 19:30  |  Gee 21/06/07
  98.   indrajaya, where is Alan Johnston you promised free last Sunday 20:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 21/06/07
  99.   It`s telling Haaretz refused to put a name on this garbage articl 20:33  |  Netanel 21/06/07
  100.   Haaretz is dead wrong on Barghouti 20:38  |  AV 21/06/07
  101.   Fake Tosefta Alert #98 21:03  |  Tosefta 21/06/07
  102.   Israel`s prime ministers don`t have blood on their hands? PART 2 21:03  |  Irish Sensation 21/06/07
  103.   OK. We free him. Then what? 21:04  |  Fortuna Benmayor 21/06/07
  104.   He is only popular BECAUSE he is in jail and a terroris 21:14  |  McQueen 21/06/07
  105.   Israel has no right to exist 21:26  |  Robert 21/06/07
  106.   #1Yitzhak. Re MURDERES, be honest for once... 21:35  |  Harry 21/06/07
  107.   BARGHOUTI MAKES PEACE IMPOSSIBLE - DONT FREE HIM! 21:41  |  Y.I. 21/06/07
  108.   Barghouti 21:43  |  P. J. Casey 21/06/07
  109.   where are you seeing moderate ? 21:56  |  alain Lellouche 21/06/07
  110.   Barghouti 22:02  |  Avraham 21/06/07
  111.   to the irish sensation on #102 22:19  |  Shmuelshachor 21/06/07
  112.   Freeing Barghouti is just as nutty as... 22:29  |  William 21/06/07
  113.   shame on you 22:41  |  Bob 21/06/07
  114.   To all who oppose freeing barghouti 23:33  |  Reuben Jacobs 21/06/07
  115.   The quisling subject cannot be changed 23:57  |  Hannah 21/06/07
  116.   Haaretz definitions: 23:58  |  joe 21/06/07
  117.   worse then the kahanists 23:58  |  Zvi 21/06/07
  118.   jewish blood on his hands-never free 00:25  |  Chaim 22/06/07
  119.   #111 How do you know from Brazil??? 00:31  |  ballistic 22/06/07
  120.   SMULSHACKER 00:42  |  ILabhras 22/06/07
  121.   Barghouti is a problem for Israel 01:04  |  Mohan 22/06/07
  122.   Barghouti is a problem for any peace process 01:37  |  Laura 22/06/07
  123.   to ballistic,on #119 02:00  |  Shmuelshachor 22/06/07
  124.   #121, Mohan 02:02  |  Hannah 22/06/07
  125.   `54 Miriam 02:23  |  Labhras 22/06/07
  126.   Zvi (117) = Spot On 02:55  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/06/07
  127.   Ghastly Impostor warning #101 02:56  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/06/07
  128.   Begin and Shamir were terrorists too 03:05  |  David 22/06/07
  129.   #99 The only thing it tells is about you 03:08  |  David 22/06/07
  130.   To #86 Voice of Moshiach 03:13  |  VOICE OF GOD 22/06/07
  131.   A question for most of you 03:24  |  Janice 22/06/07
  132.   Kangaroo Court 03:39  |  abe 22/06/07
  133.   An Answer for Janice (Post No. 131) 03:58  |  Johnny Weintraub 22/06/07
  134.   #131 Good post, Janice, except 04:09  |  Johnboy 22/06/07
  135.   #123, Schmuel 04:11  |  Hannah 22/06/07
  136.   #131, Janice 04:14  |  Hannah 22/06/07
  137.   Barghouti vs. Begin? 04:15  |  Ken Smith 22/06/07
  138.   Mandela and Barghouti 04:15  |  Jeremy 22/06/07
  139.   what if the editorial writer`s daughter was one of his victims? 04:23  |  uzi 22/06/07
  140.   freedom for terrorists 04:52  |  MICHAEL R. COVINGTON 22/06/07
  141.   HAARETZ WHY DON`T YOU TALK ABOUT HOW HE KILL 6 PEOPLE 05:13  |  MODERATE BARGHOUTI 22/06/07
  142.   Free the "good" murderer 05:39  |  George 22/06/07
  143.   #134 JOHNBOY AND AMUSING STORIES 06:03  |  paul harris 22/06/07
  144.   Revenge 06:05  |  Bill 22/06/07
  145.   #23 without begin danny there would be no israel 06:27  |  paul harris 22/06/07
  146.   National Interest 07:24  |  Peaceman 22/06/07
  147.   Where do the editorial writers dream this up? 07:57  |  Joe Sittizen 22/06/07
  148.   to Hannah on 135# 08:15  |  Shmuelshachor 22/06/07
  149.   The call to free Barhouti is like a call to free Yigal Amir 08:55  |  Zev 22/06/07
  150.   #123 You are stretching it a bit, aren`t you? 09:24  |  ballistic 22/06/07
  151.   Mr.Marwan Barghouti`s release 09:29  |  Ahmed M Ibrahim 22/06/07
  152.   WHAT KIND OR PEOPLE LIVE IN ISRAEL? 10:18  |  yy 22/06/07
  153.   link to Haaretz on Islamic propaganda website 10:25  |  ZG 22/06/07
  154.   #149 WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WRITE SUCH TOTAL RUBBISH 10:36  |  paul harris 22/06/07
  155.   re: yy 10:39  |  Efox 22/06/07
  156.   #131, Janice: Reasons Barghouti is not released 10:47  |  Thomas Jackson 22/06/07
  157.   #154 Rubbish indeed? 11:28  |  Zvi 22/06/07
  158.   Free Barghouti 00:02  |  Avraham 23/06/07
  159.   Free Barghouti Editorial 04:29  |  Terry Stewart 23/06/07
  160.   To yy #151 14:38  |  Serenity 23/06/07
  161.   Reading this Insanity Makes Me Ashamed that Jews Wrote It 06:52  |  Tod Zuckerman 03/12/07
  162.   F R E E H A A R E T Z 15:23  |  taps 06/01/08
  163.   #36, Dan R, the way Israel left Gaza strengthened Hamas 15:03  |  newageblues 18/07/08
 Read & React
Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel
Responses: 244
Shalit talks hit impasse as Hamas hangs on to 'asset'
Responses: 127
Marco Greenberg: The real story of anti-Semitism in the U.S.
Responses: 145
ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'?
Responses: 84
David Landau: Olmert has walked right into Nasrallah's trap
Responses: 38


More Headlines
23:27 VIDEO: What Talansky said about Olmert in his testimony
19:54 Report: Obama's planned visit to Mideast raises serious security concerns
20:56 Spat between Jews and Muslims sours Saudi interfaith summit
21:59 Six arrested in Israel for allegedly plotting attack on Bush
13:38 Israeli film on mothers of suicide bomber, victim tapped for 3 Emmys
08:36 Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset'
09:15 This hyphenated life, post two / Jew me down
16:50 Teva to buy U.S. drug giant for $7.5B in biggest ever purchase by Israeli company
00:47 Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel
05:55 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'?
07:25 Rabbis felt emotional difficulty in identifying remains
18:37 Even the Arab envoys came to bid farewell to Israel's UN ambassador
12:44 Serbia setting up case against alleged Nazi unit member living in U.S.
23:06 Girl, 16, arrested for pimping out 13-year-old neighbor
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Dan Hotels Israel
Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation
Yossi Avrahami Presents:
New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat
Holyland Park
Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury
Your vacation starts here
Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved