Terrorist or peacemaker: Marwan Barghouti could be the key to a new future for Israel and Palestine if both sides just have a little faith – or he could just renew the cycle of hate. Will the two sides be able to make a leap of faith?

It seems peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled – because Hamas wants Israel to release a political rival.

Marwan Barthouti is a leading member of Fatah, the political party that runs the Palestinian Authority (that rules parts of the West Bank) – and could be the leader who could negotiate a lasting peace and the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Israeli government does not want him to be released. So logically…

Doesn’t that mean Israel – or rather the Israeli government – doesn’t want peace but wants the violence and killing to continue?

Here‘s the Associated Press:

Marwan Barghouti’s freedom is at stake in cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Hamas leaders demanded Friday that Israel release Barghouti, a leader of the militant group’s main political rival, as part of any deal to end the fighting in Gaza.

The demand brings new attention to Barghouti, who plays a central role in Palestinian politics even after spending more than two decades behind bars. His release could lay the groundwork for his eventual election to national office.

Hamas’ demand that Israel release Marwan Barghouti brings new attention to a man many Palestinians see as their Nelson Mandela.

Palestinians see the 64-year-old Barghouti, a member of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, as a natural successor to the 88-year-old Abbas, who leads the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, the self-ruled government that administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

if Barghouti is released, he could become a consensus candidate in a round of new elections that Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions could rally behind.

But the Israeli government considers Barghouti to be a terrorist – possibly with very good reason.

So there’s a moral question here: should Israel release a terrorist to secure the reciprocal release of the remaining 136 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 last year?

And: is it possible that the terrorist has changed – enough to create a lasting peace, rather than war?

Releasing this man would be a huge gamble. But is it worthwhile?

Source: Hamas demands Israel release Marwan Barghouti, a man some Palestinians see as their Nelson Mandela | AP News