Barghouti in jail move

Jailed Palestinian uprising leader Marwan Barghouti was transferred to the general population in his southern Israeli prison today, an Israeli official said, ending almost three years of separation from other Palestinian prisoners.

Barghouti, one of the most charismatic leaders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, is serving five life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis and a Greek monk. He was captured by Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Ramallah in 2002.

“Barghouti was moved from the isolation unit to the general security facility at Eshel Prison after (Israeli) security officials dropped their demand that he be isolated,” said Prison Authority spokesman Ofer Lefler. ”He will be allowed to circulate there with the general population.”

Last month, Barghouti announced his candidacy for the Palestinian presidency, but withdrew it after the ruling Fatah movement put pressure on him not to challenge interim leader Mahmoud Abbas in elections on January 9.