This article was originally published by Maan News and is republished with permission.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is said to be considering the release of former Fatah leader and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Marwan Barghouthi, Israeli paper Ma'ariv said on Wednesday.

The possible move is said to be politically motivated, with the intention of strengthening President Abbas' hand in the run up to the presidential elections next January to the detriment of any Hamas candidate. The report claims that the majority of the Israeli cabinet is in favour of such a move.

Earlier this year at the Elysee summit in France Olmert announced that he would be willing to release Palestinian prisoners if it would strengthen the position of President Abbas, even if those prisoners 'had blood on their hands.'

There had been rumours that Barghouthi would be released as part of a prisoner swap with Hamas, but the alternative may be favourable to the down-trodden Olmert, in reducing the political capital that would be claimed by Hamas if such a move were to go ahead.

Barghouthi was arrested by Israeli forces in 2002 for attacks carried out by Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, on Israeli soldiers. He has continued to be a prominent figure during his incarceration, running, but dropping out at the last minute, in the 2005 presidential elections.

While many of the political leaders support the release of Barghouthi, high profile 'security' officals have expressed their opposition to such a move. Yovel Diskin, head of Shin Bet, has consistantly condemned any plans that involve the release of Barghouthi.