WEST BANK: The Palestinian 'dean of prisoners' Nael Barghouti marries his sweetheart, weeks after his release from an Israeli jail where he spent 33 years

Record ID: 530742

  • Title: WEST BANK: The Palestinian 'dean of prisoners' Nael Barghouti marries his sweetheart, weeks after his release from an Israeli jail where he spent 33 years
  • Date: 22nd November 2011
  • Summary: (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BRIDE EMAN NAFE, SAYING: "This day for me, for the Palestinians and for all the people is a day that was impossible to happen. It was a dream that is fulfilled. Nael was in prison for 34 years (sic) and was not allowed to be released in all the deals. We are so happy that Nael is released and we are getting married today; this gives hope to us and the Palestinian people. We hope that we have a state one day and are freed." BRIDE AND GROOM CHANGING RINGS GUESTS CLAPPING MORE OF CHANGING RINGS
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVACN6QJNR3C3VPRS8A0YPCGG3K2
  • Story Text: One month after being freed from an Israeli prison, one of the longest serving Palestinian prisoners, Nael Barghouti, wed his longtime sweetheart Eman Nafe, who also served a long jail sentence.
    Barghouti spent more than 33 years behind bars for taking part in a "commando operation" which killed an Israeli soldier.
    The middle aged released prisoner arrived at the wedding hall carried on a man's shoulders. A large crowd surrounded him, cheering, singing and dancing.
    His bride, Eman Nafe, 47, wearing a white dress and full makeup, waited inside surrounded by her family and hundreds of women. For years the only contact they had with each other were letters and messages exchanged through family members.
    "Tomorrow, we want to wake up with a bit of silence," Barghouti said after the ceremony.
    Now aged 54, the couple are beginning a new chapter of their lives and, they hope, "a new family."
    Nafe was herself imprisoned for 10 years in Israel, and was released in 1997. She was accused of attempting to plan a suicide operation in the city of Jaffa.
    "This day for me, for the Palestinians and for all the people is a day that was impossible to happen. It was a dream that is fulfilled. Nael was in prison for 34 years (sic) and was not allowed to be released in all the deals. We are so happy that Nael is released and we are getting married today; this gives hope to us and the Palestinian people. We hope that we have a state one day and are freed," she said as they made their way to the dance floor.
    Barghouti was arrested on April 4, 1978 at the age of 21, and was sentenced to life in prison. Though in Israel he is not a known figure, nor was the operation he participated in particularly notorious, for Palestinians he is a symbol of sacrifice, and determination. And everyone has heard of him.
    He said he was shocked to see how much the West Bank had changed since the 1970s but was impressed to see how much political awareness had grown.
    Barghouti was released in a prisoner swap deal between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. About 5,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails.
    His name was left out of many previous prisoner exchange deals because Israel refused to release him. He was freed this time after Israel acquiesced to a Hamas demand to free veteran prisoners.
    Barghouti became known as the 'dean of prisoners', but he prefers to be called "Abu An Nur" (the father of light).
    At the time of his arrest, Barghouti was a member of the armed wing of the Fatah movement. But in prison, he became more religious, and joined the Islamist Hamas movement.
    On his release, he was seen waving green Hamas flags.
    Fatah and Hamas have been bitter rivals since 2006 when Hamas violently seized the Gaza Strip from Fatah causing a rift in Palestinian society.
    Political prisoners go to jail representing their respective political parties, and a change of political affiliation is unheard of.
    But Barghouti emerged as a figure who is well respected by both parties. Palestinians say that he embodies the possibility of obtaining a long sought after Palestinian national unity.
    Both of Barghouti's parents died while he was jailed. His closest remaining relative is his younger sister Hanan, who was 12 when he was detained. His older brother Omar has been in an Israeli prison for the past 23 years.
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