Son of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti urges Trump to secure his release, revive two-state solution

The son of high-profile Palestinian politician and prisoner Marwan Barghouti urges US President Donald Trump to “seize the opportunity” created by the Gaza truce to secure his father’s release and revive the two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

Sometimes dubbed the “Mandela of Palestine” by his supporters, Marwan Barghouti, 66, has been serving multiple life sentences since 2004 for helping plan terror attacks during the Second Intifada that killed five people in Israel.

He denies the charges against him and has also rejected the Israeli court’s jurisdiction to try him as a member of the Palestinian Authority’s parliament.

The heavy sentences have not diminished his popularity among Palestinians, many of whom see him as a possible successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

“He’s capable and has the track record to unify the Palestinian people,” Arab Barghouti tells AFP in an interview in English from the West Bank city of Ramallah.

“Someone like him represents a great opportunity for the international community to prove that they are serious about supporting the two-state solution.”

Arab Barghouti is the second member of the family to appeal to Trump to secure his father’s release. Earlier this month, Barghouti’s wife Fadwa also urged him to intervene.

Trump said in an interview with US magazine Time on October 15 that he would be “making a decision” on the matter, without specifying a timeline.

“I really hope he can do that, pressure the Israelis into releasing my father, because he is a partner for peace,” Arab Barghouti says, adding that his family “really welcome” Trump’s comment.

Western countries, including the US, “need to seize the opportunity of having a Palestinian leader who is well-respected and trusted and has the same vision that they have,” he says.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.