Free Pollard, Not Barghouti say MKs

Balad MK: Barghouti is a very important leader

Ronen Liebovitch - NFC Hebrew News - October 18, 2006

Translated to English by J4JP

Publication of the demand by American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to free Marwan Barghouti who is in prison in Israel, drew in its wake angry responses from MKs on the right who countered with the demand to free Jonathan Pollard. MK Jamal Zachalka, from the other side, supports the American demand.

Following the demand by American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to free Marwan Barghouti , incarcerated in Israel, a number of MKs responded to the news, seizing the opportunity to make the demand to free Jonathan Pollard, who is in prison in the US for spying for Israel.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union, Mafdal) said, "The US has no right to come to Israel with any demand to release any prisoner until it first releases Jonathan Pollard who has been languishing in prison for 21 years.

The leader of the National Union faction, MK Uri Ariel, called upon the Prime Minster to reject the demand of the American Secretary of State to free Barghouti. "Before the United States asks for anyone to be freed let first free Jonathan Pollard who has served 21 years for an offense far less serious than the murder and terror charges for which Barghouti was indicted .

On the other side, MK Jamal Zachalka (Balad faction) claims that "Barghouti is a very important Palestinian leader who must be freed at once." In his words, they wove charges against Barghouti even though he opposed Palestinian resistance activities. His remaining in prison damages the Palestinian political system, and not only that."


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