TEL AVIV, July 14: An Israeli court on Monday ordered Marwan Barghouthi, a leader of the Palestinian uprising for an independent state, to spend a further six months in isolation from other prisoners in an Israeli jail.

There has been speculation that Barghouthi, 43, would be among prisoners released by Israel as Israeli and Palestinian leaders implement a US-backed “road map” to peace.

Israeli commandos arrested Barghouthi in the West Bank in April last year. He is on trial charged with multiple counts of murder arising from Palestinian attacks that killed 26 people.

He has already spent the past six months of his detention in isolation as part of moves to prevent him making direct contact with other militants, and the latest order by the court extends his isolation for another six months.—Reuters