Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti is taken away under escort on September 29, 2003 in Tel Aviv, Israel, after proceedings in his trial in the Tel Aviv District Court. Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

As far as politicians go, few have earned as much respect among Palestinians as Marwan Barghouti, the most prominent Palestinian prisoner who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail.

The former West Bank leader of the Fatah party is by far the most popular political figure in the occupied Palestinian territories, even though an entire generation of Palestinians was born after he was incarcerated more than two decades ago.

Some have described him as the Palestinian Nelson Mandela, a long-time jailed leader they believe can lead them to freedom.

To Israel, he is one of the most high-

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