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November 25, 2004
In election bid, Palestinian lifer Barghouti decides to run -- from prison
Topics: Middle East News and PerspectivesBy Israel Insider staff and partners November 25, 2004
Updated 11/25 18:36 Israel time.
Marwan Barghouti, convicted on five counts of murder and serving a life sentence in Israel, made it known Thursday that he is running for Yasser Arafat's position as head of the Palestinian Authority, defying the traditional leadership and scrambling the political picture ahead of the Jan. 9 presidential election.
Barghouti, 45, is challenging interim leader Mahmoud Abbas, 69, a "pragmatist" who appears to have the tacit support of Israel and the United States.
A generational struggle in Palestinian politics
Both Abbas and Barghouti support the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
The two differ on the uprising. Abbas has spoken out against violence and said the current uprising was a mistake, but Barghouti has justified attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza as legitimate resistance to occupation.
This sharpens a power struggle in the ruling Fatah movement, pitting the old guard of politicians, like Abbas, who returned with Arafat from exile in 1994, against the younger generation of activists who led two uprisings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Arafat ruled Fatah for nearly 40 years. Read More....
Fatah named Abbas as its candidate earlier this week and has the support of the old guard. Barghouti can be seen as representing younger activists who are seeking a greater share of power; the uptake of all this is don't be surprised to see Barghouti released even though he is serving five life terms for his role in attacks on Israelis. But some sources feel that in the end, Barghouti may even be Israel's choice to head the Palestinians.
Posted by Hyscience at November 25, 2004 8:49 PM
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