Marwan Barghouti — the charismatic and popular leader of the Palestinian resistance, imprisoned since April 15, 2002 — calls from his tiny prison cell for the people of Palestine to mobilize to help Gaza and end the Israeli aggression. He said on July 29, "Resistance in all Palestinian territories must now realize the need for Palestinian unity and support the unity government, and commit firmly to its legitimacy. In the midst of thousands of other prisoners, I salute the resistance.”

In the final paragraph of his long appeal to the people of Palestine he wrote, “Now is the time to reassess the functions of the Palestinian authorities everywhere and empower capacities to resist after the flaws of the Arab experiences,” ending “the bloodshed of our children, women, elderly and our resistance heroes is going to open the road to Jerusalem. It appears that our people as well as others can achieve liberation and bring independence through sacrifice, resistance and struggle."

Barghouti’s appeal is a strong factor in enhancing the national reconciliation that took place between the governing authorities of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which makes it more credible and effective. This appeal comes from a leader whose struggle, for many years, has made him the single most influential political figure in Palestine.

I refer to this appeal because it was preceded by the growing demonstrations that took place in the West Bank and Jerusalem, signaling not only solidarity but also the unity of the Palestinian people and echoing the call for empowering the new unity government.