Israel cabinet minister calls for Fatah leader release

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — An Israeli cabinet minister and member of the powerful security cabinet on Saturday called for the release of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghuti in a bid to push forward the peace process.

"Marwan Barghuti must be set free in order to obtain results in the peace process" between Israel and the Palestinians, Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said, according to public radio.

"I have a lot of respect for (Palestinian president) Mahmud Abbas and for (Palestinian prime minister) Salam Fayyad, but if we want results we must address Barghuti," Ben-Eliezer said in Tel Aviv.

Ben-Eliezer insisted that the Fatah leader and backbone of the intifada was capable of persuading the Palestinian people to accept a peace settlement with...