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Last update - 13:53 05/02/2007 Kadima minister Ezra: Free Barghouti for Abbas' sake By Haaretz Service and Agencies Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, a senior Kadima party colleague of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Monday that Israel should release jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in a bid to prop up Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for involvement in the murders of four Israelis and a Greek monk, is seen as the most popular Palestinian leader in the territories, and is widely regarded as the only figure able to unify clashing Palestinian factions, rein in militants, and get peacemaking with Israel moving again. Ezra is the second senior Israeli official to recently advocate Barghouti's release.Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, a senior Kadima party colleague of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Monday that Israel should release jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in a bid to prop up Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Advertisement Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for involvement in the murders of four Israelis and a Greek monk, is seen as the most popular Palestinian leader in the territories, and is widely regarded as the only figure able to unify clashing Palestinian factions, rein in militants and get peacemaking with Israel moving again Ezra is the second senior Israeli official to recently advocate the release of Marwan Barghouti of Abbas' Fatah movement. Several weeks ago, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh of Labor argued that Israel should free the former Fatah Tanzim militia chief. "If we want to blunt Hamas' capabilities ... and if we ultimately want a civil rather than a religious government like those taking shape across the Arab world, we have to make a contribution, Ezra told Army Radio, in defense of freeing Barghouti. "I think it could definitely help Abu Mazen," Ezra added, referring to Abbas by his nickname. Abbas and his Fatah loyalists are engaged in an increasingly deadly power struggle with the Islamic Hamas, which rejects Israel's right to exist and unseated Fatah in elections last year. The infighting has weakened Abbas as he tries to relaunch long-stalled peace talks with Israel, which considers him a legitimate negotiating alternative to Hamas. Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin said the release of Barghouti was not on the agenda. But Ezra said Israel has freed much worse murderers in the past. Several weeks ago, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh of the Labor Party also championed Barghouti's release. Hamas has demanded a large-scale prisoner release, including Barghouti, in exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by Hamas-linked militants in June Bookmark to del.icio.us   Muslims study Holocaust For Dutch educators, Islamophobia can be a teaching aid for Holocaust studies. White House race Edwards is the angry candidate; Obama prefers conciliation.   1.   Indict Ezra for Treason 13:55  |  Steven Ruddell 05/02/07   2.   Let Bargouti go 14:18  |  Big Al 05/02/07   3.   Release a criminal!!! 14:18  |  Ben 05/02/07   4.   Ezra forgot his secretary killed in a restaurant blast in Jlem 14:28  |  Absolute Sweden 05/02/07   5.   free barghouti 14:38  |  colin 05/02/07   6.   Barghouti 14:46  |  David 05/02/07   7.   Release Barghouti? 14:48  |  Dr. David 05/02/07   8.   who can free bargouti first competion 14:51  |  zionist forever 05/02/07   9.   What a proposal! 14:56  |  Brod 05/02/07   10.   Sweep Kadima Out 14:56  |  George Kaplan 05/02/07   11.   Kadima Minister Ezra comments on Barghouti 14:57  |  Edward Cooper 05/02/07   12.   Israel`s Trump Card 14:57  |  Paulo 05/02/07   13.   Put Ezra in Jail 14:59  |  shelly 05/02/07   14.   A reason not to live in Israel... 15:24  |  R Light 05/02/07   15.   Affinity with your own people: putting an end to bloodshed 15:28  |  Jeroen de Jager 05/02/07   16.   The Israelis practice "Divide and Conquer" 15:28  |  Clickfool 05/02/07   17.   Like the U.S. would free Saddam or Osama Bin Laden. 15:33  |  Yacov 05/02/07   18.   Ezra, Barghouti Is Only A Murderer, No Big Deal... 15:47  |  Ben Israel 05/02/07   19.   All power to Minister Ezra 15:47  |  Esther 05/02/07   20.   Barghouti is in prison because of his leadership potential 15:48  |  tuairimiocht 05/02/07   21.   How did Israel sink to this depth? 15:49  |  Sidney 05/02/07   22.   Jorgen de Jaeger:Release T.V.Gogh murderer this second 15:52  |  Absolute Sweden 05/02/07   23.   FREE POLARD, ARAD, SHAVIT ,GOLWASSER... 15:57  |  YEHUDA 05/02/07   24.   Is Popularity an Excuse for Getting Away With Murder? 15:57  |  Jane 05/02/07   25.   Israel, don`t squander your credibility 15:57  |  Mark Klein, M.D. 05/02/07   26.   Barghouti is not JUST a bloodthirsty killer - Mandela potential 16:07  |  Jeroen de Jager 05/02/07   27.   this guy worked for israeli intelligence?? 16:13  |  bob 05/02/07   28.   Jeroen de Jaeger : Ahmed Yassin also renounced violence while in 16:19  |  Absolute Sweden 05/02/07   29.   Indicative of Kadima incompetent Israeli leadership. 16:21  |  bat yam 05/02/07   30.   4absolute. He did not forget the murder. He just does not care... 16:23  |  bat yam 05/02/07   31.   Will this be the straw that breaks the camel`s (gov`ts) back? 16:25  |  fed up!!!! 05/02/07   32.   Gid`on Ezra 16:28  |  Avi Yerushalmi 05/02/07   33.   Yassin never renounced violence - and Barghouti does 16:50  |  Jeroen de Jager 05/02/07   34.   Zionist fear 16:59  |  Clickfool 05/02/07   35.   Jeron,I don`t care for your compliments,you`re telling untruth 17:08  |  Absolute Sweden 05/02/07   36.   Kadima is Krazy 17:15  |  * BEN JABO 05/02/07   37.   The asssessment of ministers Sneh & Ezra 17:16  |  Daniella 05/02/07   38.   Big Al 17:27  |  North 05/02/07   39.   Another reason to vote Kadima out of office 17:31  |  Polybios 05/02/07   40.   Fool`s Trumped Up Charges 17:32  |  George Kaplan 05/02/07   41.   Israel`s problem: crook-minded politicians like Mr. Ezra 17:41  |  Vel 05/02/07   42.   Our Ben Gurion always favord releasing Barghouti 17:45  |  Mark Lincoln 05/02/07   43.   Ezra- "free Barghouti" 17:54  |  Bear 05/02/07   44.   KADIMA IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 17:55  |  SAM(NEW YORK) 05/02/07   45.   Barghouti, in jail for standing up for the rights of his people 18:25  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   46.   Free Barghouti to advance peace 18:35  |  david 05/02/07   47.   Barghouti release naive 18:38  |  Alderfen 05/02/07   48.   # 24 Jane. The underdog is allowed to fight back. 18:52  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   49.   Barghouti Release 19:01  |  GS 05/02/07   50.   #45 Nick. Way to oversimplify things... 19:12  |  Polybios 05/02/07   51.   Madness ! 19:13  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/02/07   52.   # 47 Alderfen 19:15  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   53.   Nick Ferriman 19:31  |  Mark Lincoln 05/02/07   54.   Ezra`s flawed strategy 19:47  |  Wade 05/02/07   55.   Bangkok Nick #53 19:56  |  Wade 05/02/07   56.   it should be a package deal 19:57  |  Dani 05/02/07   57.   # 50 Polybios 20:12  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   58.   # 53 Mark Lincoln 20:29  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   59.   The Talkback Censor hides Israel`s shame 20:32  |  Clickfool 05/02/07   60.   # 55 Wade 20:40  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/07   61.   Release 20:56  |  Jim 05/02/07   62.   The real point, Nick 21:24  |  Polybios 05/02/07   63.   More for Nick, re: #48 21:36  |  Polybios 05/02/07   64.   #42 - Lincoln had a seance with Ben Gurion 03:13  |  * BEN JABO 06/02/07   65.   Free Barghouti for Abbas 01:03  |  Connie 03/01/08   66.   Esther 01:10  |  Connie 03/01/08   67.   Clickfool 01:12  |  Connie 03/01/08

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