Palestinians are anticipating the announcement of prominent Fatah leader Marwan al-Barghouti to run for the upcoming presidential elections.
Barghouti, who is detained in an Israeli prison, has become the talk of town. He is seen as an influential figure and a strong contender against any other figure proposed by Fatah.
Barghouti did not yet announce his candidacy. His lawyer and family did not make official statements over the matter either.
However, news reported by his close associates, pictures published by his wife on social media, as well as support voiced by several activists were clear indications that he will run for the upcoming elections.
Also, Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdel Qader said on Saturday that Barghouti will run for the presidential elections but will not run for the legislative elections, scheduled for May 22.
Barghouti expressed his position frankly during his meeting in jail with Member of the Fatah Central Committee Hussein al-Sheikh on Thursday, Abdel Qader noted.
He supported the unified list that would be chosen democratically and transparently and which has an agenda capable of leading the Palestinians in the next stage, the Fatah official added.
Sheikh’s visit to Barghouti will not be the last, he affirmed, pointing out that a Fatah Central Committee delegation will visit him again.
Sheikh, who is close to Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, visited Barghouti to discuss the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
He was granted exceptional permission by Israel, given the current security and health conditions posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Abbas sent Sheikh to persuade Barghouti against running for the presidential polls.
It is expected that the movement would offer Barghouti to lead its electoral list in the parliamentary elections or perhaps even help in selecting its candidates in exchange for abandoning his presidential ambitions.
But his associates confirm that he was determined to run for the presidential elections this year, viewing himself as a “rightful” candidate, or because it is his only way out of jail.
He is currently serving a life sentence after Israel convicted him of planning deadly attacks against Israelis during the Second Intifada.
In theory, no one in Fatah could pose a challenge to Abbas, except for Barghouti, who is widely supported by the movement, especially its youth.
He has been detained by Israel since 2002, serving five life sentences, for leading Fatah’s military wing and killing Israelis during the Second Intifada that erupted in 2000.
