RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN MP MARWAN BARGHOUTHI

That this House notes that the Palestinian politician and elected Member of the Palestinian Legislative Authority Marwan Barghouthi has been held in an Israeli prison continuously since 15 April 2002; further notes that, despite spending the last 14 years in jail, he is still the candidate in the strongest position to win a presidential election to succeed Mahmoud Abbas, according to a recent poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research; recalls that President De Klerk approved the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 so that he could take part in negotiations, leading to majority rule and that British colonial authorities released Gandhi and Nehru from prison in the 1940s so that they could negotiate Indian independence; believes it would show statesmanship as well as a serious commitment to peace if the Israeli parliament were to approve Barghouthi's release so that he could play a part in the process of reconciliation, unification and negotiation that will be needed before Palestine achieves its independence; and further believes the time is overdue for a settlement of this conflict, now 68 years old, and the end of the occupation of the Palestinian territories, nearly 50 years old, which will necessarily include forgiveness for past actions and the release of conflict­-related prisoners.