Abbas asks US help to free jailed Palestinian leader (Marwan) Barghouti

[azurnoir]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked Washington to mediate with Israel for the release of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader and possible presidential contender jailed a decade ago over a spate of suicide bombings.

Any move to free such a high-profile figure as Barghouti would probably ignite a political fire storm in Israel. By the same token, it would shore up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's standing at home and help give him domestic cover to carry on the as-yet unproductive talks with Israel.

A Palestinian official said Abbas had written to the United States asking them to bring about the release of ill prisoners, female inmates and minors, as well as Barghouti and two other high-profile leaders - Ahmed Sa'adat and Fouad Al-Shobaki.

"The president renewed his demand during the recent meetings in Washington," said Qadoura Fares, chairman of the Palestinian Prisoner Club, referring to Abbas's trip to Washington this week to discuss the shaky peace process with President Barack Obama.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4501449,00.html

[Jefferson23]

1. Other than the appearance of a significant win, what am I missing here? To me this will

not help Abbas negotiate for a viable state.

[azurnoir]

2. Maybe Abbas is throwing in his own deal breaker

I can not see Israel releasing Barghouti even though polls show him to be a top contender for leader of the PA

[Jefferson23]

3. Possibly, but I don't know if Abbas has a way out..the pressure has been pretty intense and

the lure of money..the recent oil considerations, all seem to be pending on great concessions
of land by Abbas. But you may be right, I'm not convinced Israel would agree unless they
get a great return.

[azurnoir]

4. well about the oil considerations

most of area being looked at is located in Area C under Israeli control and there is a rather unpleasant history in regard to foreign funded economic projects for the Palestinians - Israel will allow them to be built but then will cite permit irregularities or lack there of and close them down-just as they're being finished-so I'm not very hopeful about this one either

[Jefferson23]

5. Based on history, I can't disagree with that..not at all. n/t

[Jefferson23]

6. Abbas, after talks with Obama: Palestinians won't give in

* Good will PR for Abbas, but I still don't see how this helps form a viable state.

PA president asks U.S. to mediate with Israel for release of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti.

By Jack Khoury and Reuters | Mar. 21, 2014

The Palestinian leadership has remained true to its principles, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced Thursday, when he returned to Ramallah from Washington.

“We’re sticking to our promise — stay calm,” Abbas said at a reception organized by his Fatah party at his offices in Ramallah. “In the end, we will win. We’ll uphold our principles and we won’t give in. You’re aware of all the conditions and the pressure, but I repeat: We won’t give in.”

The reception in honor of Abbas' return is highly unusual, as were the marches in support of Abbas that Fatah organized in Ramallah and other major West Bank cities on the eve of his White House meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. Sources in the Palestinian Authority said these marches were meant to send the Obama administration the message that Abbas’ positions had widespread support and that he could not be pressured any further.

But the marches also served a domestic purpose: They were meant to show that Abbas remains popular among the Palestinian public in general and Fatah in particular, despite the recent criticism leveled at him by Mohammed Dahlan, who was a senior Fatah official himself until not long ago.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.581095