Hadash MK Youssef Jabareen (Joint List) met with the imprisoned Palestinian Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti at the Hadarim Prison on Thursday, August 18. According to Al Ittihad, the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Israel, Barghouti told Jabareen that he is seriously considering running against Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Maazen) for the presidency/chairmanship of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA, or PA). 

Palestinians in Gaza hold aloft posters in support of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti during a demonstration at the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in their city, besieged by Israel. (Photo: Joe Catron)

During their meeting, Jabareen and Barghouti, the latter of whom is currently serving five life sentences in the Israeli prison where they met, discussed efforts to reconcile the split between the various Palestinian factions before the upcoming Palestinian municipal elections set for October. Barghouti stressed that the success of the local government elections could pave the way for democratic elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council and the office of the president/chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, which would give him a chance to supplant the (disputed) incumbent, Mahmoud Abbas.

Following his visit, MK Jabareen commented that Barghouti believes in strengthening Palestinian democracy through regular democratic elections for all governmental bodies. According to Jerusalem Post, last February, PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat said that he would support Barghouti as a candidate for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority.

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