The “Palestinian Nelson Mandela”: Marwan Barghouti and His Hope for National Unity

In the city of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, a mural featuring Yasser Arafat is joined by another significant figure—Marwan Barghouti. Known to his followers as the "Palestinian Nelson Mandela," Barghouti is seen as a potential successor to Arafat's legacy. Despite having been imprisoned for over 20 years, he still stands as a favorite among Palestinians for the role of a unity candidate and a beacon of national solidarity, echoing the journey of the iconic South African leader.

Marwan Barghouti, 65, has time and again topped the polls as the most favored leader among Palestinians. A recent survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed that 29% of respondents selected Barghouti as their preferred successor to current Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. His son, Arab Barghouti, confirms that his father's aim is to unite the Palestinians and has always publicly opposed corruption in Palestinian politics.

Currently, Barghouti is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his conviction in 2004 for involvement in the murder of four Israelis and a Greek Orthodox monk in the second intifada or Palestinian uprising. However, his incarceration has not diminished his political influence, particularly within Fatah, the nationalist organization established by Arafat.

Barghouti's political ambitions have remained steadfast despite his circumstances. From behind bars, he has reiterated his call for a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. He has also demonstrated his leadership by leading hunger strikes for better treatement of inmates in Israeli prisons. In 2020, he registered his list for parliamentary elections in the West Bank, posing a direct challenge to Abbas' leadership.

The Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, called for Barghouti's release in February, recognizing his role as a unifying figure. Some Israelis also support his release, considering him more moderate than Hamas. Notably, Ami Ayalon, former director of Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, believes Barghouti could be a future leader of Palestinians and an effective partner for peace.

Unfortunately, previous attempts to release Barghouti have been unsuccessful. His continued detention has caused some distress among victims of terror. Barghouti's son, however, remains optimistic, recounting his father's commitment to his role as a politician as he said at his wedding: "I'm going to be a politician." Despite the steep price he has had to pay, Barghouti stands firm in his resolve to serve the Palestinian people.