Marwan Barghouti is a key military and political figure in the Palestinian resistance against Israel’s occupation. Marwan has been driven by his ambition to see Palestine become an independent state since joining Fatah as a teenager. His entire life has been marked by adversity because of his beliefs, with his first arrest by Israeli forces occurring before he finished from high school. Marwan demonstrated his dedication by completing his high school certificate from a detention cell when he was young. He went on to college and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, demonstrating that he was far more than the unstable rebel leader portrayed by Israeli soldiers. Because of his resistance to Palestinian government corruption, Marwan has gained the backing of several Israeli leaders. Despite being apprehended and sentenced to life in prison for his claimed role in suicide bombs against Israeli civilians, he continued to urge for a peaceful conclusion to the war. He said that the Palestinians were only defending themselves, and that all violence would cease once Israel ended its possession of Palestine. Even within the confines of an Israeli prison, Marwan Barghouti continues to be one of the most popular Palestinian political figures.
Early Life & Childhood
Marwan Barghouti was born on June 6, 1959, in the village of Kobar in the West Bank. He is from Deir Ghassaneh’s Barghouti clan. His father was a Lebanese migrant worker, and he had six siblings.
Marwan was inspired to become a member of the Palestinian resistance from a young age. He joined Fatah when he was 15 years old.
He quickly made an impression on the Fatah Youth Movement by co-founding the Shabiba.
He first had a run-in with Israeli authorities in 1976. He was apprehended for his ties to Palestinian military groups. He completed his secondary education while incarcerated. He graduated from high school and became fluent in Hebrew.
Marwan continued his education at Birzeit University in 1983. He did not receive his degree until 1994 as a result of his arrest and exile.
Career
In 1987, Marwan Barghouti’s studies were disrupted when he became a key figure in the First Intifada. He rose to prominence as a leader of the Palestinian uprising against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
He was arrested for his role in the same year and exiled to Jordan. He was exiled for seven years until the Oslo Accords, signed in 1994, allowed him to return.
Despite his history of leading armed resistance, Marwan was always a strong supporter of a peaceful solution. He had doubts about Israel’s motivations because he didn’t think they would agree to the formation of Palestine.
In 1996, he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council, which launched his political career. He strongly advocated for an independent Palestinian state after being elected to the Legislative Council.
He was an outspoken critic of Yasser Arafat and a vocal opponent of his administration’s corruption and human rights violations. During his time as Fatah’s Secretary-General, he also developed strong ties with a number of Israeli politicians.
The Second Intifada began in 2000, at the turn of the new millennium. Marwan rose to the top of Fatah’s military wing, Tanzim.
He was the leader of the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli Defense Forces. He was an outspoken supporter of armed resistance to Israeli forces, but he also desired a peaceful resolution. His argument was that all Palestinians had the right to defend themselves against intruders into their homes. He was outspoken in his opposition to armed violence against Israeli civilians.
Despite his opposition to violence against civilians, Israel falsely accused him of being a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. This organization was responsible for three suicide bombings that resulted in the deaths of five people.
In 2001, Israel attempted to assassinate him, believing he was the mastermind behind the group’s attacks. He escaped the missile attack because the missile instead hit his bodyguard’s car. His bodyguard was assassinated.
On April 15, 2002, he was detained in Palestinian territory. He was transferred to an Israeli prison in Jerusalem. The legality of his arrest was questioned as a result.
Marwan refused to present a defense during his trial, claiming that the proceedings were unlawful. He claimed that because the arrest took place in Palestinian territory, Israeli forces had no authority to make the arrest. He also claimed that his journey to Jerusalem was in violation of the Geneva Convention.
On May 20, 2004, Marwan Barghouti was found guilty of murder and attempted murder. For five murders, he was sentenced to life in prison, plus another 40 years for an attempted murder.
In prison, he has continued to be politically active. Following the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004, he ran for the Palestinian Authority presidency for a short time. Under Fatah’s pressure, he eventually backed out of the competition.
Important Projects
His lifelong commitment to fighting for Palestinian independence was Marwan Barghouti’s most significant contribution. No other Palestinian leader has been able to gain Israeli political support using a combination of military tactics and diplomatic deception.
He left Fatah and founded Al-Mustaqbal in December 2005. His plan was to enlist the help of Palestinian youth in order to achieve peace. Because of Marwan’s imprisonment, this party was never able to reach its full potential.
Personal History and Enduring Legacy
In October of 1984, Marwan Barghouti married Fadwa Ibrahim, a college sweetheart. Ruba is their only child, and Arab, Sharaf, and Quassam are their three sons.
Marwan Barghouti Net Worth
Marwan Barghouti is one of the wealthiest politicians and one of the most popular. Marwan Barghouti’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
Despite his imprisonment, a poll conducted in 2012 found that 60% of Palestinians would vote for him as President if given the opportunity.