Imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti maintains his position as a potential future Palestinian Authority President and likely increased support for him following a recent interview publicized on Sunday. Even though Barghouti remains a Fatah member, his advocacy of resistance grants him support from a broad swath of Palestinians, including Hamas members. Because of Barghouti’s popularity, many analysts contend that Barghouti could unite Palestinians and forge an agreement with Israel to establish an independent state.
In the recent interview, Barghouti called for peaceful resistance to Israel and supported Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad’s call to establish institutions within Palestinian territories in order to declare de facto independence within two years. Regarding settlement activity, Barghouti said:
“First, what is needed is a firm and consistent political stance on the basis we already discussed. Secondly, the PLO Executive Committee, with all of the factions, should set a plan and vision for a wide popular and peaceful movement against settlements. We need the Executive committee, the factions, and PLC members to turn up the heat on popular demonstrations.
What is needed from Israel and the US is a decision to end the occupation, not more negotiations. Negotiations have been going on for years and that’s enough. The Palestinian leadership should work to isolate Israel and put it under siege and force it to implement international resolutions.”
Comments on the interview from one website included multiple calls for a Barghouti presidency, albeit interspersed with some questionable anti-Israel comments.
