Defiant Fatah chief put on trial for murder, terrorism

TEL AVIV - Israel began its first civilian trial of a leader of the Palestinian uprising last night, slapping murder charges on firebrand Marwan Barghouthi who defiantly vowed in Hebrew: "The Intifada will win".

The proceedings in a Tel Aviv court are expected to fuel emotions among Israelis and Palestinians and put on trial not only the charismatic leader but also Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction which Barghouthi headed in the West Bank.

Barghouthi, who has professed his innocence, was not asked to enter a formal plea during the 15-minute inaugural session. His lawyers argued that Israeli courts had no authority to try their client, a member of the Palestinian legislature.

The proceedings against Barghouthi, who is often mentioned as a possible successor to Arafat, resume on September 5.

Israel accuses Barghouthi, 43, of running the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed group in Fatah which has carried out suicide bombings and other attacks which have killed scores of Israelis in the almost two-year-old uprising.

"Marwan Barghouthi is fighting for peace," the bearded activist, handcuffed and wearing an Israeli prison uniform, said in Tel Aviv District Court before the session.

Prosecutor Dvora Chen said Barghouthi was charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and "activities in a terrorist organisation". The indictment cited 37 attacks which killed 26 people and wounded scores. Barghouthi, captured by Israeli forces in the West Bank in April, says he is a political leader and not involved in violence. He could face life in prison if convicted of murder.

"Our position is that the court does not have the authority to try him. We do not recognise that authority," one of Barghouthi's lawyers, Jawad Boulos, said.

Striking the first blow in what his lawyer has said would be an Israeli show trial, Barghouthi - holding his handcuffed wrists in the air and surrounded by Israeli police - shouted his message to reporters in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

"Peace will be achieved by the end of the occupation. No peace, no security, with the occupation," he said before Judge Zvi Gurfinkel called the court into session.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that Palestinian organisations have been holding secret talks to forge a consensus on their uprising against Israel, trying to agree on such issues as whether suicide bombings are a legitimate weapon.

The talks over the past month involved 12 groups, including secular organisations, Fatah and the radical Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas.

United States and European mediators as well as emissaries from Arafat's Palestinian Authority had joined the talks at various times.

Many of the participants saw the talks as a vital first step before there could be a peace accord.

It was also a recognition that any peace deal needed at least the tacit approval of radical groups such as Hamas to succeed.

Participants said the goal was to unite them behind a "national programme" that could eventually lead to a coalition government and a prohibition against suicide bombings.

- REUTERS

Feature: Middle East

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