Marwan Barghouthi, the jailed leader of the Palestinian intifada, issued a call Tuesday for change in the Palestinian Authority.
In a written response to questions from AP presented to Barghouthi in prison by his lawyer, Khader Shkirat, Barghouthi said the Palestinian Authority should hurry along elections and make way for a new, younger leadership. However, Bargouthi did not mention Arafat specifically.
"It is the time for many of the Palestinian leaders and officials to leave their positions after failing in their roles and responsibilities in this decisive battle," Barghouthi said. "This should be done in a democratic and legal way as soon as possible."
"Resistance is a holy right for the Palestinian people to face the Israeli occupation," Barghouthi wrote. "Nobody should forget that the Palestinian people negotiated for 10 years and accepted difficult and humiliating agreements and in the end didn't get anything except authority over the people, and no authority over land or sovereignty." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
