Issue No.589
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6 - 12 June 2002 Issue No.589 Region |
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Out of sight
Although Marwan Barghouti's fate in the Israeli judicial system is far from certain, the activist can count on his popularity among Palestinians. Sherine Bahaa spoke to Barghouti's lawyer about his prison conditions
Although Marwan Barghouti's arrest almost two months ago has put him on the sidelines of the political scene, he is very much present in the hearts and minds of many Palestinians.
Click to view captionA woman and her child look out the window of their home in the West Bank city of Nablus which has been under around-the-clock curfew since last Friday
"Marwan will win if he stands in the legislative elections, even from detention. And if Palestinian President Yasser Arafat does not participate in the presidential elections, Barghouti is the most likely to win," Khalil Shikaki, head of the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), told Al-Ahram Weekly.
Shikaki's words are supported by figures. The PSR, a think tank in Ramallah, carried out an opinion poll last month on Palestinian attitudes about a number of issues. Topping the list of issues were the peace process, armed resistance, political reform, Arafat's popularity, as well as that of Fatah and of Islamic groups.
The poll showed that Arafat's popularity has remained virtually static since December 2000, standing at 35 per cent. This represents a significant drop from his approval rating just before the Intifada erupted when it was 46 per cent. While Barghouti came second to Arafat, his popularity has almost doubled in recent months, going from 11 per cent in December to 19 per cent in the May poll.
Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and reportedly the mastermind behind the second Intifada, has always been identified with grass roots politics rather than the PA leadership.
According to Shikaki, the old and the new guard are of the same mind with respect to a political settlement. "They both agree on the necessity of the existence of two states, but the new generation is influenced by the Lebanese experience and they approve of armed struggle to force the Israelis to withdraw. Arafat represents the old generation, seeking peace by means of negotiations and agreements."
The formative political experiences of the two generations go far in explaining the divergence of views. "Arafat was brought up in a way that did not allow him to build a democratic system. There are no institutions and there is no separation of powers. Barghouti, in contrast, opts for a democratic system based on the rule of law. Having been brought up under occupation, he distrusts the authority and looks forward to the creation of a democratic leadership," Shikaki said.
Barghouti laid out his vision for settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in an op-ed piece that he wrote for The Washington Post two months before his arrest. He affirmed his belief in the potential for coexistence between the two peoples, but insisted on the legitimacy of resorting to resistance against Israeli occupation. "And while I, and the Fatah movement to which I belong, strongly oppose attacks and the targeting of civilians inside Israel, our future neighbour, I reserve the right to protect myself, to resist the Israeli occupation of my country and to fight for my freedom," he wrote.
Meanwhile, Barghouti's legal status since his arrest in Ramallah during Israel's reoccupation of the town remains unclear. Will Israel treat him as a "member of a terror group" or as a political leader and elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council? Will he be tried before a military or a civilian court?
"All options remain open," his lawyer, Jawad Boulos, told the Weekly last Thursday.
According to Boulos, judicial restrictions on meetings with Barghouti have been relaxed and personal meetings are now allowed. Barghouti had not been permitted to see his lawyers alone, and his earlier meetings with them took place in the presence of Shin Bet security agents.
Boulos, who talked to the Weekly only hours after visiting Barghouti at a new detention centre, spoke of an improvement in his client's treatment. "But I am not sure how long this improvement will last," he said. A week ago, Barghouti was suffering from "long hours" of interrogation and "sleep deprivation". However, Barghouti remained adamant in his denial of all accusations.
One element will be decisive in Barghouti's trial, says Shikaki: "The course of the trial will depend mainly on developments in Palestinian-Israeli relations during the next few weeks. If we return to the path of negotiations and a peaceful settlement, then Barghouti may be released. But if violence prevails, and this is more likely, Barghouti will remain behind bars."
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