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Marwan Barghouti: Suspect Accusations After the Fact
Barghouti was framed and imprisoned lawlessly.
by Stephen Lendman
Barghouti's a political prisoner. On May 20, 2004, he was wrongfully convicted of involvement in three terrorist attacks killing five people. Acquitted on 33 other charges, he received five consecutive life sentences plus 40 years.
A three-judge panel ruled that although he didn't fully control local Brigade leaders and wasn't directly involved, he had "significant influence" over their conduct.
In other words, no evidence existed. A legitimate court would have acquitted him. Israel's military one judged him guilty by accusation. Due process and judicial fairness were absent. Virtually all prosecuted Palestinians face the same fate, including children.
Barghouti calls himself "a political leader," an elected PLC member. Israel had no right to accuse, try, and judge him, he maintains. Doing so violates international law. It affirms the right to resist lawless occupations. Israel's is the longest in memory.
Avinoam Bar-Yosef is president of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute. Last November, his New York Times op-ed headlined, "Release Marwan Barghouti," saying:
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