Jewish Leader Privately Advocated for Palestinian Prisoner Release in Hostage Deal

A prominent leader in the American Jewish community privately lobbied for the release of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian security prisoner serving multiple life sentences, as part of the ongoing hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are expected to begin Monday.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder reportedly offered to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last week – where final negotiations were taking place – to argue for Barghouti’s inclusion on the list of 250 prisoners slated for release in exchange for 48 hostages held in Gaza. According to a senior Arab official and an Israeli official, Lauder even suggested Barghouti could be exiled rather than returned to the Palestinian territories. The proposal was ultimately rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, facing significant opposition from Israeli cabinet ministers.

Barghouti, 66, was sentenced in 2004 to five life sentences for his role in planning terror attacks during the Second Intifada that resulted in the deaths of five Israelis. While he has denied the charges, some regional stakeholders have likened him to Nelson Mandela, viewing him as a potential future leader for the Palestinians and a key figure in achieving a lasting peace agreement. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most intractable geopolitical issues in the world.

Egypt and Qatar also appealed to the United States to intervene and persuade Israel to release Barghouti, but the Trump administration reportedly declined to become heavily involved. Hamas had included Barghouti on its list of desired prisoners, but Israel used one of its five vetoes to prevent his release. Officials indicated Netanyahu’s decision was driven by both domestic political considerations and concerns about Barghouti’s widespread popularity among Palestinians.

Netanyahu’s office and Lauder have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.