Barghuti Fatah's Trump-card in Elections

Published by You on 27 November, 2005 - 18:00

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[size=18]Barghuti Fatah's Trump-card in Elections[/size]

Additional Reporting By Yasser Al Banna, IOL Correspondent

RAMALLAH, November 27, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Jailed Palestinian Fatah leader Marwan Al-Barghuti is set to play a leading role in the upcoming legislative polls along with the younger generation.

Despite being behind Israeli bars, the West Bank Fatah leader served a reminder of his enduring political clout by winning 96 percent of the vote in weekend primaries to choose candidates to run in the elections on January 25, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Official results showed that Barghuti won 7,000 ballots in Friday's polls, making 96 percent of the vote, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, beating 44 election rivals.

Members of Fatah's young guard had demanded a primary election after accusing veteran members of monopolizing decision-making in the faction.

The results indicated the wind of change inside the movement led for decades by late President Yasser Arafat.

"Fatah primary vote has been dominated by the younger candidates, reflecting a widespread desire to introduce changes to the movement," political analyst Hani Al-Masri, told IslamOnline.net.

"I participated because I want to see new faces leading Fatah," Reuters quoted Mohammad Abu Ein as saying after casting his vote in Ramallah.

The Fatah primary election is the movement's first polls. Previously, candidates were appointed by the leadership.

[b]Vote for Intifada[/b]

The Fatah polls were seen as a carte blanche for the five-year Al-Aqsa Intifada.

"This result is a sign that the Palestinian people support the political project of Marwan," she told AFP.

"His lawyer visited Marwan this morning in prison and told him the result. Marwan said... that this is a message from the Palestinian people to the (Israeli) occupation that they support Marwan's political line and want his release."

Fatah officials said the overwhelming result could make it impossible to have anyone but Barghuti at the top of the overall Fatah list, even above Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, and make him a focal point of the campaign.

Hisham Ahmad, professor of politics at the West Bank's Bir Zeit University, said Fatah would damage its own electoral chances if it did not put Barghuti at the centre of its campaign, even if such a move is bound to sour the atmosphere between Israel and the Palestinians.

"If they put any other personality at the top of Fatah list, it would weaken the party in the elections," Ahmad said.

According to an opinion poll published last month, Fatah would secure its strongest showing if Barghuti, who is already an MP, stands as the head of the parliamentary faction.

Palestinian President Mahmmoud Abbas has been a consistent critic of the armed uprising but he may well have no choice but to associate himself with the firebrand Barghuti given his soaring popularity.

Barghouthi's wife Fadwa said the primary results were an endorsement of the armed uprising.

[b]Release[/b]

Before he was arrested, Barghuti was seen by Israelis as the emerging personality in Palestinians politics and a pragmatist -- a man with whom business could be done.

Despite his conviction, some Israeli officials are still prepared to countenance his eventual release.

"In politics, you should never say never," Transport Minister Meir Sheetrit said when asked by Israeli radio about the chances of Barghuti being freed.

"If we are to reach a final peace agreement with the Palestinians, so that terrorism ends and total calm prevails, a pardon could be envisaged," said Sheetrit who is a close ally of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

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96% in the primaries? it shows he has not lost any clout even though he has been imprisoned...

I like the guy.