Barghouti. Next Palestinian PM?
Photo: AFP
Deal: Barghouti to form PA government
Fatah factions reach deal to unite movement under leadership of Marwan Barghouti, al-Sinara newspaper reports Friday. Jailed leader's wife denies deal was reached
Following a long dispute, the two factions of the Palestinian Fatah movement has reached an agreement Thursday to unite the group under the leadership of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Arab-Israeli weekly al-Sinara reported on Friday.
The newspaper has released the details of what it defined as the "bargain deal," between the rivaling sides, revealing that in the framework of the agreement Barghouti has consented to the movement's unification in exchange for an effort to persuade the factions to carry on with the state of intra-Palestinian lull set to expire at the end of the month.
Negotiations
Ali Waked
Officials in Palestinian Authority’s ruling party engage in intense contacts to unite two Fatah lists under leadership of jailed Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, Ynet learns; official announcement expected soon
Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who was contemplating pushing back the elections, has in return committed to holding them as scheduled, and to assign Barghouti the post of forming the Palestinian government following elections.
According to al-Sinara, Abbas has informed the Palestinian factions of the pact during a meeting of the PLO's Executive Committee on Thursday. Barghouti's wife Fadwa and several other supporters of the imprisoned leader were present at the meeting as well.
Wife denied deal
Al-Sinara reported that the deal was made possible through Egyptian mediations, including a meeting Egyptian intelligence Head Omar Suliman held with Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and with Abbas.
However, Barghouti's wife Fadwa has denied in conversation with Ynet having attended the PLO's meeting, and claimed she has not heard of the agreement naming her husband as the next Palestinian prime minister.
Ever since Barghouti's arrest, the possibility of his release has often been put on the agenda, in light of his tremendous influence on the Palestinian street and his believed ability to bring about a true state of calm among the Palestinian organizations, as well as progress in the diplomatic negotiations with Israel.
