US considers exchanging Jewish spy for jailed Fatah leader

Xinhuanet ^ | 12-5-05

[SJackson]

GAZA, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States is considering the possibility of releasing a Jewish spy in return for the release of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Israeli media reported Monday.

The website of Israeli Ha'aretz daily said the idea of exchanging Jonathan Pollard for Barghouti came after international requests to release Barghouti to race in the Palestinian legislative elections due on Jan. 25, 2006.

Barghouti, 46, is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison after he was arrested in 2002 during the Israeli Defensive Shield operation in the West Bank.

The jailed Fatah leader won an overwhelming victory in the latest Fatah primaries last month, which prompted several Israeli political and security leaders to mull over his release.

Pollard, an American Jewish citizen, has been imprisoned in the United States since 25 years ago under a life sentence for spying for Israel.

Washington has rejected some Israeli and Jewish attempts to release him. Enditem

[gaijin]

What you're telling me is that he transferred the very images used by the Israeli pilots to destroy the reactor?

If my understanding is correct, could you direct me to a source?

[Willie Green]

It shouldn't surprise anybody that the Chicoms are helping to spread this rumor.

Pollard and Barghouti can both rot in their respective jail cells forever as far as I'm concerned.

Same with Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Just let 'em rot.

[dervish]

"Well, then it's another foolish gaffe by the US government that won't work. '

I suspect the Israeli left here pushing their agenda.

"Then someone like a Jerry Adams will step forward, someone who may be bloodyminded as hell, but who will play the game politically."

I think the US, Pres Bush and Secretary Rice, think Abbas is that man. The US has engaged in this wishful thinking before, and it has led nowhere good. PM Sharon has no such illusions. Disengagement was the unilateral act of a government which saw no one who could make or keep a deal on the Palestinian side. The Road Map is being imposed.

[Just mythoughts]

How exactly did the destruction of "Tammuz-1 reactor at Osiraq, Iraq, stop Iranian nuclear threat????

[Vicomte13]

"Then someone like a Jerry Adams will step forward, someone who may be bloodyminded as hell, but who will play the game politically."

"I think the US, Pres Bush and Secretary Rice, think Abbas is that man. The US has engaged in this wishful thinking before, and it has led nowhere good."

I guess the difference is that Jerry Adams and most of the people on both sides of the sectarian divide in Ireland really did want peace after 800 years of war. They really don't like each other, but they really do want peace.
By contrast, the Palestinians really don't.
And that makes all of the difference in the end.
Once you get peace with an Adams, you can keep it, because he wants it. Even if you and he hate each other's living stinking guts.
But you can negotiate a thousand cease fires with people who want the truce only to kill you some more, and you'll never get peace.

[dervish]

agreed.

[Mack Truck]

The destruction of Tammuz-1 reactor at Osiraq, Iraq, set back the Iranian nuclear threat for more than 20 years.

[GAB-1955]

"The Jews In Israel and in US that care about Pollard are the same ones that are hardliners on terror. They would not advocate for such a trade releasing the terror master Barghouti. "

Right. I have proposed a Pollard for Vanunu trade, but both guys know too much to be released.