Free Pollard, Not Barghouti

According to persistent reports, a deal could be in the works to swap convicted American spy Jonathan Pollard for convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti.

Pollard has been serving time for 21 years in a maximum-security federal prison in the US. Barghouti was convicted in Israel nearly two years ago on five counts of murder and was sentenced to five terms of life imprisonment plus 40 years.

Even prima facie the equation between Pollard and Barghouti is so inherently untenable that, despite the fervent desire to see Pollard set free at long last, denials that such a deal is in the works are welcome.

Pollard's espionage is no way comparable to Barghouti's homicides. Moreover, Barghouti's recidivist penchant is a foregone conclusion. In fact, once released he'd be that much more dangerous. As was the case with former Hamas spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin, years behind Israeli bars would enhance Barghouti's image and catapult him to the status of a revered hero.

Barghouti offered a clear picture of his mind-set in an interview with the newspaper Al-Ayyam published last Saturday, in which he vowed "to continue on the path of struggle and resistance," the conventional code for terror operations.