While violence in the occupied Palestinian territories continues to spiral in an unclear direction without an end in sight, a familiar name has returned to the political agenda. Marwan Barghouti, an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a senior Fatah leader, is being discussed in political and diplomatic circles. Talk of him intensified when Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, in a highly publicized video conference on Nov. 4, told Gaza supporters that Hamas will call for the release of Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in a prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

Barghouti — a former student leader at Birzeit University who was deported by Israel during the first intifada in 1987 and helped launch the Fatah youth movement — is a hero to many Palestinians. Public opinion polls by Arab World for Research and Development show Barghouti gaining in popularity over the years as President Mahmoud Abbas' elected successor.

Israelis have mixed feelings about Barghouti, who speaks fluent Hebrew and understands the Israeli political map. Some consider him an “arch-terrorist” and point to his multiple imprisonments and convictions related to killing of Israelis during the second intifada in 2002, while others see him as a pragmatic leader with whom they could one day possibly make peace.

Moqbel Barghouti, Marwan’s young brother, told Al-Monitor that his brother is in extremely good spirits. “I met Marwan last Monday; he was very optimistic and feels good about what is going on in the occupied territories,” said Moqbel. He also related that his brother was nonetheless concerned that the Palestinian leadership’s political efforts are a weak match for the struggle taking place on the ground. “He wants to be sure that efforts on the political front will be equal to the sacrifice on the ground,” which, based on what Marwan told Moqbel, appears to be a veiled reference to portrayals of Abbas' current position.