Arafat kept Barghouti out of Hezbollah prisoner swap

[bemildred]

<snip>

One person who can join the list of the
frustrated and despondent is the most
prominent Palestinian prisoner in Israel, Fatah
leader Marwan Barghouti. Reports that have
reached Israeli intelligence officials indicate
that those who helped dash hopes for
Barghouti's release include Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

True, Israeli spokesmen declared in response to
speculation about Barghouti that there was no
intention to release him as part of a deal with
Hezbollah. Yet it turns out that these denials
were not enough for Arafat. Reports suggest
that Arafat relayed a message to Hezbollah
asking the organization not to include
Barghouti on its list of demands from Israel.

Assuming the reports are true, one explanation
of Arafat's behavior is his desire to ensure that
Barghouti's star does not rise among the
Palestinian public. As things stand, the
imprisoned Fatah leader leads in public opinion
surveys whenever residents in the territories
are asked about who they would want to
replace the aging PA chairman.

As talks for the prisoner swap stalled over the
Kuntar issue, Hezbollah tried to up the ante by
demanding that the list of Palestinians
scheduled for release be upgraded. According
to Palestinian sources, Hezbollah tried to add
some "big names" - prominent operatives who
were detained during the conflict - to the
roster. Israel rejected this demand, the sources
said. For its part, Israel has consistently
demanded that Hezbollah move forward on a
key matter - the transfer of "substantive"
information about the fate of missing Israel
Air Force navigator Ron Arad.

<snip>

Haaretz

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. I would believe it more if it didn't come from "Israeli intelligence"

Poor old Omar is still waiting for those 200,000 Uighurs...

[bemildred]

2. One does have to consider the source, of course.

I was mainly interested to find that this deal is apparently
not considered dead.

[bemildred]

3. It is always nice to hear of Mr. Barghouti too.

I wonder how his "trial" is coming.

[sushi]

4. Since Marwan Barghouti is popular

with the Palestinians and a possible replacement for Arafat, I find it strange that Israel hasn't released him. It would annoy Arafat, who doesn't want Barghouti, a rival for leadership, released, and it could mean Israel's PM, who hates Arafat, could soon be negotiating with a new Palestinian leader. Or is it that Israel's PM does want Arafat to stay leader so that he can use him as a reason to avoid negotiations!

[GabysPoppy]

5. What did I miss?

The thread is about Arafat's intentions yet you managed a way to find Israel at fault. Is Israel also at fault for the current cold wave in NYC also?

[sushi]

6. Just read your post

I wasn't thinking of Israel being at fault, but here is a chance to get negotiations started.

My point is that Arafat doesn't want Marwan Barghouti released because he is popular, a rival for the leadership, and Israel's PM doesn't want to negotiate with Arafat. Here is a chance to get a different leader for the Palestinians, so the two parties can start talking. I would have thought Israel's PM doesn't care what Arafat wants, and release Marwan Barghouti asap. The fact that he hasn't proves (again) that he doesn't want to negotiate at all.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Barghouti is Arafat's rival

and he is a threat to the corrupt cabal that the PAS has become under the former smuggler Arafat.

[sushi]

8. Exactly!

which is why I'm surprised Israel has not released him. He is ambitious, speaks good English (unlike Arafat) and, I understand, Hebrew, and, I'm sure, knows he is popular and has a good chance to become Arafat's successor. Once free he could campaign and win the leadership. Then Arafat will be history, and there is a new Palestinian leader for Israel's PM to negotiate with. I think Israel's PM doesn't want the Palestinians to have a new leader, brcause he wants to avoid negotiations!