Jordanian gov’t calls for Marwan Barghouti’s release
The Fatah leader was convicted by an Israeli court on five counts of murder in 2004
Elhanan Miller is the former Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
The Jordanian government called on Israel Thursday to release Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti, sentenced by Israel in 2004 to five life terms for involvement in terror attacks.
Jordanian government spokesman Rakan Majali met Barghouti’s wife Fadwa in Amman on Thursday, conveying King Abdullah’s support for the “legitimate rights of the Palestinians,” Jordan’s Petra News Agency reported.
Majali said Israel should release Barghouti and other Palestinian prisoners “languishing in prison,” adding that Jordan would consider this a good will move towards the peace process.
Marwan Barghouti, the founder of the Tanzim – Fatah’s armed wing, is considered a central leader of the Second Intifada that erupted in 2000. His name is often mentioned as a potential successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Times of Israel Community.