Israel denies Palestinian reports on possibility of releasing Barghouthi shortly
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/18/2003

The Palestinian radio said that the Israeli authorities will release member of the Palestinian legislative council Marwan Barghouthi during the next 48 hours. A matter which was denied by the Israeli government which cling to proceeding with measures to trying him.

The official radio which transmits from Ramullah said according to an official source without identifying it that "during the next 48 hours the secretary of the Fatah movement in the West Bank Marwan Barghouthi will be released from the Israeli jails." The radio stressed that Yasser Arafat "follows up personally this case to release Barghouthi for his return back to his family and people." Reports said that Arafat contacted Fadwa, wife of Barghouthi and informed her that her husband will be released within the two coming days and with the fall of Thursday, as maximum date.

Meantime, sources at the Israeli government divan denied the possibility of releasing Barghouthi. Israeli security sources said that Arafat's statements on a close time to release Barghouthi are groundless "because releasing Barghouthi is not among the authorities of the chairman of the Palestinian authority and because Barghouthi is tried before the Israeli courts and is detained until the completion of these measures and therefore he will not be released."

The Israeli radio quoted the Israeli deputy defense minister Zaef Nafe as denying this information noting that they are groundless, noting that the judicial measure against Barghouthi is taking its due course.

The radio said that the attorney general of the state and legal advisor of the government Elakim Robinshtine sent a message to the prime minister Ariel Sharon in which he announced his opposition to releasing Barghouthi.

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