05/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Luisa Morgantini (GUE, Italy), Vice-President of the European Parliament, is to head up an international campaign to free Marwan Barghouthi, a charismatic young leader in the Palestinian territories, who was arrested in 2002 and sentenced by an Israeli court for “acts of terrorism”. The vice-president has announced that a petition will be started, with the aim of allowing Marwan Barghouthi to leave prison and resume his political activities. Since his imprisonment, he has written a “prisoners' document”, which has been countersigned by other political prisoners of various political leanings. This document was used as the basis for dialogue between members of the Palestinian Authority, some in the pro-integration movements (Hamas) and the Fatah, for work towards a national union government. The document lays out in 21 points the conditions for an inter-Palestinian reconciliation policy and for paving the way for dialogue with Israel. Mr Barghouthi, who speaks Hebrew and Arabic equally fluently, is working together with figures and associations on the Israeli left. For observers, his liberation would serve to thwart the integrationists' influence in the West Bank. (fb)