Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti told Knesset members visiting the "Hasharon Prison" in central Israel
Sunday that he believed a future peace agreement would receive widespread support from Palestinians, including those residing in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
"The end of the (Israeli-Palestinian) conflict is near. All that is needed is a leader courageous enough to sign (an agreement). I believe we are on the brink of a solution," the most senior Palestinian security prisoner told members of the House Committee.
| Jailed Fatah Leader |
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| Report: Barghouti key in peace talks / Ronny Shaked |
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Jailed Fatah leader tells Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper he receives detailed reports on all developments between Palestinian Authority, Israel; adds he is 'optimistic' he will be released |
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"If a permanent agreement is drafted, the Palestinian Authority will hold a referendum to approve it."
Asked to comment on the expected release of an additional 400 Palestinian prisoners on Monday, Barghouti said "tomorrow's prisoners' release is a joke. Most of those slated for release would have been freed a few months from now anyway.
"Israel can free thousands of prisoners, not just 400. Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) requested the release of more prisoners but was denied by Israel," he said.
Barghouti and Lebanese prisoner Samir Kuntar, who was convicted of brutally killing the Hanan family in 1979, complained to the MKs of the absence of a public phone in the security prisoners' ward.
MK Nadia Hilou (Labor) said in response, "This is especially bewildering when one takes into account that another security prisoner in Israel named Yigal Amir (Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin) enjoys 24-hour access to a phone."
Barghouti and Kuntar were recently mentioned in the framework of a possible prisoner swap involving kidnapped IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, who have been held captive in Lebanon since July, 2006.
However, MK Hilou said Kuntar was aware that he would not be included in any such deal.
"Kuntar said his name would come up in future prisoner release deals, but refused to give any details," she added.
Asked by MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) whether he regretted his actions, Kuntar said "No, I don't. It isn’t personal. We are speaking of a collective conflict."
Amnon Meranda contributed to this report
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