Jerusalem, June 17: Israel's legal authorities are examining the implications of releasing Marwan Barghouti, an Israeli official said today, hours after the jailed Palestinian uprising leader's wife said she had been told by Yasser Arafat her husband would be free within 48 hours. Attorney general Elyakim Rubinstein warned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a letter that releasing Barghouti would undermine Israel's legal system, Israel radio reported today. Barghouti, leader of Arafat's Fatah movement, is on trial for his alleged role in attacks that killed 26 Israelis in the past 32 months of fighting.
Israeli officials declined public comment on reports that Barghouti's release was being considered as part of a cease-fire package being negotiated with the involvement of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and other militant groups.
Barghouti himself has been involved in the negotiations, appealing through envoys to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, who is in Damascus, to accept a cease-fire. Mashal's word would carry considerable weight with local Hamas militants. Egyptian and US mediators are continuing the cease-fire effort as part of implementing the ``roadmap'' plan for ending violence and establishing a Palestinian state by 2005.
The plan was launched by US President George W. Bush at a summit with local leaders in Jordan two weeks ago.
An Israeli official said Rubinstein's letter came in the context of Israel's legal system looking into the implications of releasing Barghouti - an action that he said must be taken once the idea has come up. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that most of Israel's security establishment, and Sharon himself, oppose the idea, and that Sharon did not ask Rubinstein for his opinion. Bureau Report