RAMALLAH,
November 27, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Jailed
Palestinian Fatah leader Marwan Al-Barghuti is set to play a leading
role in the upcoming legislative polls along with the younger
generation.
Despite
being behind Israeli bars, the West Bank Fatah leader served a
reminder of his enduring political clout by winning 96 percent of the
vote in weekend primaries to choose candidates to run in the elections
on January 25, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Official
results showed that Barghuti won 7,000 ballots in Friday's polls,
making 96 percent of the vote, in the West Bank town of Ramallah,
beating 44 election rivals.
Members
of Fatah's young guard had demanded a primary election after accusing
veteran members of monopolizing decision-making in the faction.
The
results indicated the wind of change inside the movement led for
decades by late President Yasser Arafat.
"Fatah
primary vote has been dominated by the younger candidates, reflecting
a widespread desire to introduce changes to the movement,"
political analyst Hani Al-Masri, told IslamOnline.net.
"I
participated because I want to see new faces leading Fatah,"
Reuters quoted Mohammad Abu Ein as saying after casting his vote in
Ramallah.
The
Fatah primary election is the movement's first polls. Previously,
candidates were appointed by the leadership.
Vote
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"Fatah
primary vote has been dominated by the younger candidates,
reflecting a widespread desire to introduce changes to the
movement," Masri said
|
The
Fatah polls were seen as a carte blanche for the five-year Al-Aqsa
Intifada.
"This
result is a sign that the Palestinian people support the political
project of Marwan," she told AFP.
"His
lawyer visited Marwan this morning in prison and told him the result.
Marwan said... that this is a message from the Palestinian people to
the (Israeli) occupation that they support Marwan's political line and
want his release."
Fatah
officials said the overwhelming result could make it impossible to
have anyone but Barghuti at the top of the overall Fatah list, even
above Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, and make him a focal point of the
campaign.
Hisham
Ahmad, professor of politics at the West Bank's Bir Zeit University,
said Fatah would damage its own electoral chances if it did not put
Barghuti at the centre of its campaign, even if such a move is bound
to sour the atmosphere between Israel and the Palestinians.
"If
they put any other personality at the top of Fatah list, it would
weaken the party in the elections," Ahmad said.
According
to an opinion poll published last month, Fatah would secure its
strongest showing if Barghuti, who is already an MP, stands as the
head of the parliamentary faction.
Palestinian
President Mahmmoud Abbas has been a consistent critic of the armed
uprising but he may well have no choice but to associate himself with
the firebrand Barghuti given his soaring popularity.
Barghouthi's
wife Fadwa said the primary results were an endorsement of the armed
uprising.
Release
Before
he was arrested, Barghuti was seen by Israelis as the emerging
personality in Palestinians politics and a pragmatist -- a man with
whom business could be done.
Despite
his conviction, some Israeli officials are still prepared to
countenance his eventual release.
"In
politics, you should never say never," Transport Minister Meir
Sheetrit said when asked by Israeli radio about the chances of
Barghuti being freed.
"If
we are to reach a final peace agreement with the Palestinians, so that
terrorism ends and total calm prevails, a pardon could be
envisaged," said Sheetrit who is a close ally of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon.
