Palestinian political prisoner Marwan Barghouti has been separated from other prisoners, an Israeli government minister said on Wednesday, a move that could further inflame tensions in the West Bank.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X that Barghouti was “segregated” from Ofer prison due to “information about a planned agitation.”
Who is Barghouti? Barghouti, 64, is seen as a maverick by the Palestinian public, was a major leader during the first and second intifada. He led the armed group Tanzim, a faction of the leading Fatah movement. Current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is the leader of Fatah.
Barghouti was arrested by Israeli forces in 2002 and sentenced to five life sentences on murder and terrorism charges.
Why it matters: Barghouti is still seen as a prominent and popular figure in Palestinian politics, despite being in prison. A December poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that Barghouti was the most popular Palestinian leader. In a hypothetical presidential competition, Barghouti received support from 47% of those polled, compared to 43% for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and just 7% for Abbas, according to the center.
Fatah is currently deliberating on how to manage post-Abbas, who is 88 years old. Barghouti is being considered as a replacement for Abbas, and there is speculation he could be released from prison in a deal with Israel, Al-Monitor’s Daoud Kuttab reported earlier this month.
Ben-Gvir’s announcement comes amid rising violence and tensions in the West Bank concurrent with the war in Gaza. Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the territory have increased significantly since Oct. 7, leading to sanctions from the United States on some settlers earlier this month.
The Israeli military has also stepped up raids targeting Hamas and other armed groups in the West Bank since the Gaza war began.
Know more: Ben-Gvir is a highly controversial figure in Israeli politics known for making inflammatory statements on the conflict. In January, he called for Gaza to be depopulated to pave the way for the return of Israeli settlers. US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller condemned the remarks.
