Imprisoned senior Fatah official, Marwan Barghouti, will run against the incumbent Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the country’s upcoming presidential election, member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdel Qader announced yesterday.

Abdel Qader told Quds Press that Barghouthi’s lawyer had informed him of the prisoner’s intention “to run for the upcoming presidential election”.

14 Palestinian Parties, Including #Hamas, Agree to Run in #Elections https://t.co/2n66vfKS3F @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/5nMje2Nk6g

— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 28, 2019

Citing local opinion polls, Abdel Qader pointed out that Barghouthi was “Fatah’s favorite candidate” if Abbas decided not to run for another term.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) was recently reported to have been looking at nominating Barghouthi for its legislative elections, but he has yet to agree on the movement’s proposal. Local sources say that Barghouthi could run for the presidential election once he “resigns from the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).”

#Imprisoned senior Fatah leader, Marwan Barghouti, will #Run against the incumbent Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the country’s upcoming #Presidential #Election, member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council announced yesterday.
Hatem Abdel Qa …
https://t.co/VSP2ys40UG pic.twitter.com/GQUOMoE6ex

— ???????⓵ⒷⓊⓋ??????? (@_1BUV) December 27, 2019

Barghouthi has been in Israeli detention since 2002 when he was sentenced to five life sentences and 40 years in prison. He is expected to be included in an imminent prisoner swap deal with Israel, in exchange for Hamas releasing two Israeli soldiers.

(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)