Israel: Israel considers boosting Abbas by releasing Palestinian uprising leader

The Arab Times reports, Israel could release Palestinian uprising leader Marwan Barghouthi to bolster President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction before any prisoner swap with Hamas, an Israeli political source said.

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is trying to negotiate a last-minute deal with Hamas under which Israel would release 1,000 or more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

To help Fatah, one idea under discussion was the possibility of releasing Barghouthi before the prisoner swap with Hamas, the political source told Reuters, adding that while it was under consideration, no decisions had been taken.

Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
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