Bicom - Home

Palestinian Figures

Send to a friend

Browse selected biographies:

Marwan Barghouti

marwan baghouti

Marwan Barghouti

Imprisoned Fatah leader and founder of al-Mustaqbal (The Future)

(Born 1958)

One of the most popular figures of the current Palestinian uprising, Barghouti is a senior Fatah leader in the West Bank. Schooled in Hebrew during his time in Israeli jails, Barghouti was a field Fatah leader during the first intifada of 1987, when he was deported by Israel.

Barghouti, 42, has struck a chord with ordinary Palestinians. The son of a West Bank farmer, he has appeared frequently at demonstrations, funerals and in the Arab press. Barghouti headed the Fatah's Tanzim and al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, responsible for dozens of attacks on Israelis has backed Palestinian resistance to Israel. Barghouti has a large following in the West Bank mainly due to the fact that he spent a lot of time in Israeli jails. He is considered a possible successor to Arafat as head of the PA.

Barghouti was arrested by Israel in the West Bank in April 2002 and accused of being behind attacks on Israelis. In May 2004, he was convicted on 26 counts of murder, accessory to murder, incitement to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and membership in a terrorist organisation.

In June 2004, the Tel Aviv District Court sentenced Barghouti to five consecutive life sentences and another 40 years in jail. Altogether, Barghouti was sentenced to 165 years in jail.

In November 2004, he was briefly a candidate PA Chairman in the January 2005 elections, before dropping out of the race later that same month.

(Source: Jewish Virtual Library)

Share with: