Israeli Politics26 September, 20263 min read
Ro Khanna Calls On Israel To Release Imprisoned Palestinian Leader Marwan Barghouti
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Ro Khanna urged Israel to release imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti. He argued Palestinians must determine their own political future for a durable two-state solution.
5 outlets told this the same way.
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Khanna backs Barghouti
US Democratic congressman Ro Khanna called for Israel to release imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, saying in a video statement, "I’m calling for the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison." Khanna argued that "Palestinians must choose their own leaders," and he described Barghouti as having a "unique standing among all Palestinian factions" as well as being "non-corrupt, a strong leader and secular." Khanna linked the release to a future political path, saying Barghouti "could deliver a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel," and he said the move would not extend a pardon or moral absolution for crimes he may have committed.
Khanna also compared the political integration of former adversaries to the Irish Troubles, saying the IRA "did terrible things" before participating in politics as part of a peace process. Khanna’s call came as he weighed a possible presidential bid, and he said he was "strongly considering" running during a visit to the West Bank in July.
Critics denounce the call
Israeli researcher and analyst Nadav Polak said Khanna’s description of Barghouti as someone who may have committed "crimes" ignores, in his view, the fact of his conviction in murder cases.
Israeli activist Elon Levy described Khanna’s stance as an approach toward supporting terrorism, while Israeli-American activist Aviva Kolombas said a member of Congress was calling for the release of someone convicted of killing five people in terrorist attacks.
Israeli activist Emily Schrider accused Khanna of supporting terrorism and said Barghouti is a convicted killer, and Israeli-American activist Arsen Ostrovski criticized Khanna’s portrayal of Barghouti as "honest, strong, and secular" by pointing to convictions and multiple life sentences.
Israeli activist Yahal Bar questioned the motives of a member of the U.S. Congress calling for Barghouti’s release, and American writer Abi Zalbirstein said support for Barghouti’s release has long been a position among liberal Zionists.
The Times of Israel said Israel has rejected international pressure to release Barghouti and noted that he was among several high profile Palestinian prisoners that Israel refuse to free as part of an exchange of Palestinian security prisoners for Israeli hostages held by terror groups in Gaza.
Elections and future leadership
Al Jazeera Net said Barghouti was first arrested in 1976, imprisoned several times, exiled outside Palestine and returned in 1994, before becoming a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah and later its secretary-general in the West Bank. Al Jazeera Net also said that after his arrest on April 15, 2002, Barghouti underwent a long interrogation, torture, and solitary confinement, and in 2004 an Israeli court sentenced him to life imprisonment. UA.NEWS said Israeli security forces arrested Barghouti at his home in the West Bank city of Ramallah in 2002, and it said that in 2004 an Israeli court convicted him on murder charges connected to operations during the Second Intifada, sentencing him to five life terms plus another 40 years.
UA.NEWS said Khanna’s call came ahead of Palestinian parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28, described as the first parliamentary vote in 20 years, and it said presidential elections are to take place next year. The Jerusalem Post said an August survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that in a hypothetical presidential race among likely voters, Barghouti would receive 54% support, compared with 26% for Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and 14% for Abbas.