Words from the heart to my friend Marwan Barghouti

At the height of its inability to break the thorn of the second intifada; The Israeli Occupation Army forces targeted the kidnapping of MP Marwan Al-Barghouti, in a desperate attempt to achieve a "victory", albeit a symbolic one, that they had been unable to achieve against the revolution of a people who would not allow the passage of Barak-Sharon's plans to resolve the battle of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, after the failure of the Camp David talks, as Barak adopted at the time the argument That there is no Palestinian partner, and he had stated upon his return from Camp David, that he "revealed the veil on Arafat's face," and then allowed Sharon to storm Al-Aqsa to prove this position, which sparked the second intifada.

The opinion of Commander Marwan, which he told me in a meeting that brought us together at Samer Restaurant in Al-Bireh after Sharon was elected prime minister of the occupation government, was that "thwarting Sharon and overthrowing his aggressive plans is the highest priority for our people, and that confronting this aggression will bring down Sharon, and with him the most difficult and dangerous link in the occupation's quiver will be broken." . However, the September 11th bombings made this priority impossible, as Sharon was able to link his comprehensive aggression against the rights of our people and their national cause, with the global war against terrorism, aiming to destroy the justice and status of the Palestinian cause, as a prelude to its liquidation.

Barak's war, and after that Sharon's, was a strategic military decision previously taken by the Israeli military and security establishments, and for this purpose they conducted military maneuvers after the tunnel intifada to simulate the reoccupation of Palestinian cities. This decision marked the beginning of the implementation of the full-fledged bloody Israeli coup against the "peace process", which was pre-designed with the assassination of Rabin.

Marwan’s arrest, in addition to an attempt to break his charismatic symbolism due to his distinguished role in directing and leading the uprising, was also aimed at trying to extract a confession from him “against Yasser Arafat, the wanted head” to label President Abu Ammar himself as “terrorist,” which Marwan recorded in his book “A Thousand Days in a Cell.” Solitary confinement”, as a prelude to the isolation and liquidation of Abu Ammar. This meticulously planned coup was the beginning of the war, which we are witnessing its continuation today, to Judaize Jerusalem and control its holy sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque.

I got to know the national leader Marwan Barghouti during my few visits to Birzeit University in the mid-1980s, and our relationship strengthened in Amman during our joint work within the framework of the Great Intifada Support Committee during the years of expulsion of each of us. Marwan had an insightful vision about the requirements of the future struggle against the occupation, and he worked hard to establish the Supreme Movement Committee as a reference capable of adapting to the requirements of the uprising, especially in terms of what it brought about in shifting the center of gravity of the national process to the occupied territory, and what the political process that began in Madrid, and as long as we exchanged views on the requirements of the continuation of the national struggle and its tight linking with the requirements of the democratic building of our people's institutions, which began their inception during the uprising and the battles of national disobedience to extract our people's right to freedom and self-determination.

He always believed that the function of these institutions, including the institutions of the National Authority, which was formed later, should be a lever for his steadfastness in the battle for complete salvation from the occupation.

Our relationship continued after the return from our forced deportation, on the fifth of April 1994, that is, a month before what became known as the "Gaza Jericho" agreement, and he saw in the transitional period an opportunity to build institutions capable of strengthening the steadfastness of the people, and consolidating the democracy that our national struggle needs, and that the people deserve. The uprising to renew its leaders in the ongoing battle of freedom.

And with the exposure of the Israeli game that wanted the "Oslo process" to be a mere "defense" on the Great Intifada, to perpetuate the occupation and liquidate our national cause; Marwan chose his place and role in confronting this plot.

My brother Aba Al-Qassam
Talking about your rich journey on the twenty-first anniversary of your kidnapping, which coincides with the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, which our people celebrated yesterday, and it is a journey rich in lessons, which certainly cannot be accommodated by a mere article in my weekly column.

From the position of our friendship, and the company of the common struggle that brought us together and the thousands of fighters, many of whom died or were captured, and others are still holding on to the embers of the idea that is exposed to an unprecedented danger. I found it my duty to address you from the heart to the heart, and it is difficult for any person to address a leader shackled between the bars of the jailer, seeking the help of his position while he is subjected to isolation and oppression. Our people share my opinion of the necessity of resorting to the conscience of the people and its leaders, the free prisoners, and on top of them you are my brother Marwan, because of the high and influential position that you enjoy, which was achieved with the most precious sacrifices, at a time when the status and role of the national movement is collapsing, and its leadership suffers from unprecedented schizophrenia and alienation with the pulse of our struggling people. Just as the prisoners proposed their historical document for the unity of the national struggle, hopes are pinned on you today, my brother Abu al-Qassam, and who is more deserving of that than you, to take the initiative within the framework of a national and unitary vision that has always characterized you in your revolutionary career, and in a manner that enables the building of a broad national coalition based on sincerity and competence. And integrity, to include all the fighters who are zealous for the future of our people in this country and the fate of their national cause, for unified action to restore the institutions of our people from the state of division and exclusivity that almost leads to sacrifices for more than a century, and ravages the national and democratic achievements that were achieved with the sacrifices of martyrs and the torments of prisoners.

The need for the initiative of the prisoners

As I appeal to you, I feel the national need to throw your weight and the prisoners of our people to give this matter the highest priority it needs, which you certainly realize. How much our people, who are still making sacrifices, are in dire need of an initiative launched by you to contribute to rebuilding the national movement and the democratic renewal of its inclusive institutions within the framework of both the organization and the authority, and correcting the relationship in the role of each of them, in order to return them to an integrated path and capable of linking the tasks of our people For national liberation on the path of freedom, return and self-determination, with the extent to which it needs effective and effective institutions that enjoy people's trust. Which, in the belief of many of our people, requires an immediate and comprehensive agreement to form a transitional government of serious and sincere national competencies; Its highest priority is to prepare for holding comprehensive general elections within an agreed time frame that does not exceed a year, and it works to harness all its resources with fairness and integrity within the framework of correcting economic and social policies, and the requirements of transitional justice by restoring the independence of the judiciary, in a way that enhances the ability of our people to withstand in their fierce battle against liquidation schemes .

And soon, my brother Marwan, with your freedom and all the free female and male captives, foremost among them is the struggling prisoner Walid Daqqa, “the Fuchik of Palestine,” as my friend, the novelist Marwan Abdel-Al, describes it. Walid, who freed his soul from prison with his writings, and we all have a responsibility to liberate his sick body so that he can recover and gain his freedom with his daughter, the daughter of freedom and life, Milad.