In prison interview, Barghouti urges unity

Jailed Palestinian politician and activist, Marwan Barghouti, calls on Palestinians to unite and to embark on popular and diplomatic campaigns to achieve their goals.

In a written message passed from prison through his lawyer, he said, "Betting on negotiations alone was never our choice. I have always called for a constructive mix of negotiation, resistance, political, diplomatic and popular action."

Responding in writing from his prison cell to questions sent by the Reuters news agency, the 50-year-old Barghouti said that with the peace process at a standstill, it was time for Fatah and Hamas to sign a reconciliation accord (with Egyptian mediation) so that legislative and presidential elections could be held.

The elections are set for January 24. The acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas had announced last month that he would not partake in the election. This leaves the door open for Barghouti, if released from jail, to replace Abbas.

Calling for a national unity and popular campaign against settlements, Bargouthi cited Israeli policies in Jerusalem Al-Quds, the Gaza blockade, land expropriation and Israel's "racist" West Bank separation wall as indications that talks would achieve little, Reuters, in an interview published on Thursday, said.

Asked if he would run for president, Barghouti replied that "when national reconciliation is accomplished and there is agreement on holding elections, I will take the appropriate decision."

Bargouthi was sentenced in 2004 to five life terms for the killings of four Israelis and a Greek monk during the second intifada, which broke out in 2000. He has denied the charges.

He could be released if Hamas and Israel come to an agreement over the fate of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

German mediators are continuing to broker efforts to produce a prisoner swap, senior Hamas leader Usama Al-Muzeini told Ma'an on Wednesday. He said talks were "ongoing with German mediation and are overcoming obstacles."