Marwan Barghouti: A possible successor of Abbas?

Since US President Donald Trump announced the Gaza Peace Plan, all attention has been focused on the ceasefire, hostages-prisoners release and the disarmament of Hamas. However, a vital pressing issue has also been on the horizon: the future authority in the occupied Palestinian territories (including the Gaza Strip).

In Palestine, just like any other place that have endured persistent election suspension, possible candidates for the aforementioned role have significantly emerged. Although figures such as Nasser al-Qudwa (the nephew of late PLO leader Yasser Arafat) and Hussein al-Sheikh (the deputy of PA President Mahmoud Abbas) have been circulated, another notable name has recently advanced: Marwan Barghouti.

Who is Marwan Barghouti?

Marwan Barghouti was born in Kobar, Ramallah in the West Bank on June 6, 1959 (almost a decade following the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948). Interestingly, this year marks the founding of Fatah, formally known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, by Yasser Arafat, which Barghouti joined in 1974.

Although facing imprisonment, his reputation was nevertheless enhanced as he rose to prominence during the First Intifada. After returning from his exile, he was elected to the new Palestinian Legislative Council. His military activity has not ceased, being the leader of the Tanzim (Fatah’s armed wing) and participating in the Second Intifada (which was bloodier and more militarized than the former uprising. His notable involvement led to his capture in 2002 and conviction to 5 life sentences.

Barghouti’s journey did not cease, however. His reputation continued to amplify, becoming a prominent and influential Palestinian figure. His imprisonment, intellectual contributions (releasing a 255-book discreetly while in jail) and past history have elevated his position in the eyes of many Palestinians. He was even named “Palestine’s Nelson Mandela,” relating the latter’s prison journey and struggle with that of Barghouti.

Continuous appeals for his release

As soon as the hostage-prisoner deal was achieved between Hamas and Israel, numerous Palestinians, including his own family, have rushed to call for his inclusion as well. His son, Arab Barghouti, urged US President Donald Trump to “seize the opportunity” created by the Gaza ceasefire to secure his father’s release, following a similar appeal from his wife. While Trump claimed that he would be “making a decision” on the matter, the jailed Palestinian leader’s fate remains uncertain.

Leadership prospects regarding Barghouti

Marwan Barghouti’s influence and reputation have significantly increased, leading many to portray him as a viable and serious successor to President Abbas. For instance, despite being imprisoned, Barghouti has continuously been elected to Fatah’s central committee. He even managed to influence a 2017 hunger strike in jail by over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Such examples offer a potential capability of Palestinian unification under his leadership should he be released.

Moreover, in 2009, Foreign Policy magazine highlighted “a growing acknowledgement among Israelis and Palestinians that Barghouti’s broad appeal and reformist streak offer the best prospects for peace.” This view has been shared amongst many, claiming that he might be the necessary partner to revive the two-states solution and achieve perpetual peace between Israel and Palestine. His son supported this perception, claiming that “I really hope he can do that, pressure the Israelis into releasing my father, because he is a partner for peace.”