Palestinian leader defiant over terror charges

Yoav Appel, Tel Aviv

It was Israel’s first major court case against a Palestinian leader.

The bearded Barghouti, wearing a dark brown prison uniform, raised his cuffed hands triumphantly as he was led into the crowded courtroom. Gesturing excitedly, He told reporters in Hebrew, Arabic and English that Israelis could only have security after withdrawing from Palestinian lands. “I am peaceful man,” he said, adding that he continued to support a peace deal with Israel.

Barghouti was indicted in Tel Aviv District Court with murder, attempted murder and involvement in terrorist organisations.

In the trial, Israel will try to show that senior Palestinian Authority ( news - web sites) officials were involved in planning and funding attacks against Israelis.

The seven-count indictment said Barghouti, 43, headed terror groups in the West Bank and reported directly to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Barghouti’s lawyers say he wants to draw attention to Israel’s actions as an occupying power. “We will try to convince the world that the one that has to be brought to trial is the occupation,” said defence attorney Jawad Boulos.

Judge Tzvi Gurfinkel said he would not permit the defence to “turn this court into a political stage”. After the indictment was filed, the judge Gurfinkel set the next hearing for September 5.

As he was led into the courtroom yesterdaymorning, Barghouti shouted in Hebrew that “the uprising will be victorious”. Asked how he felt, the scruffy-looking defendant he said “Baruch Hashem”, or “Thanks to God”, a Hebrew expression commonly used by observant Jews. Guards, apparently trying to end his impromptu news conference, dragged Barghouti away. He returned to the court when the proceedings began.

Barghouti is the leader of Arafat’s Fatah movement in the West Bank. In the days of peacemaking in the 1990s, Barghouti developed friendships with some Israeli officials and helped persuade Fatah activists to recognise Israel. However, after Israeli-Palestinian fighting erupted in September 2000, Barghouti adopted a more militant line, saying Palestinians had the right to drive Israelis out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by force.

Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian parliament, delivered fiery speeches during street protests. He was arrested on April 15 during an Israeli military sweep in the West Bank.

He maintains he is only a politician, but Israel says he was the key figure in organising attacks by members of a Fatah-affiliated militia, the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade.

Prosecutor Dvora Chen said her case would be based on testimony of Al Aqsa regional commanders and field activists, including Nasser Awais and Nasser Abu Hmeid, two senior militiamen captured by Israel in recent months.

The Justice Ministry said Barghouti was the “central partner in the decisions made by organisations that in the last two years carried out a series of attacks that claimed the lives of scores of Israeli citizens and wounded hundreds”.

Barghouti is the second-most popular Palestinian leader, trailing only Arafat in recent polls. As the Fatah leader, Barghouti was in regular contact with many young activists. Many Fatah members are also active in the Al Aqsa militia that has claimed responsibility for many bombings and shooting attacks against Israelis.

Israeli security officials have said Barghouti was gradually drawn into direct involvement in attacks, first defending them, then funnelling money to militants, thenand finally orchestrating them.

Israeli officials have claimed that during questioning, Barghouti acknowledged orchestrating attacks. But Barghouti and his lawyers have denied this, saying he was interrogated incessantly after his arrest.

Boulos, the defence attorney, said he would not call witnesses. Barghouti does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Israeli court, Boulos said.