VARIOUS: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT CONDEMNS ISRAELI DECISION TO PUT JAILED PALESTINIAN LEADER MARWAN BARGHOUTI ON TRIAL

Record ID: 400310

  • Title: VARIOUS: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT CONDEMNS ISRAELI DECISION TO PUT JAILED PALESTINIAN LEADER MARWAN BARGHOUTI ON TRIAL
  • Date: 19th July 2002
  • Summary: (W5) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 12, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ISRAELI MILITARY PRESENCE (3 SHOTS) 0.13 2. SLV PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT DOWN STAIRS 0.19 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT SAYING "We are following what is happening in the G8, in which the majority of members supported us and declared complete
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA1OIZNO0Z0HPRSQW9E8INUYEFZ
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has condemned
    Israel's decision to put jailed Palestinian leader Marwan
    Barghouti on trial.

    Speaking at his battered compound in Ramallah on
    Friday (July 12, 2002), Arafat also said that the forthcoming
    quartet of powers meeting next Tuesday was an important
    meeting which Arab nations will attend and praised the G8 for
    their support of the Palestinian people.

    "We are following what is happening in the G8, in which
    the majority of members supported us and declared complete and
    strong support for Palestinians and to assist Palestinians at
    all levels, at the same time they have condemned completely
    this Israeli escalation."
    Representatives of the United States, the United Nations,
    the European Union and Russia will meet on Tuesday (July 16)
    in New York. A U.S. official said the foreign ministers of
    Jordan, Egypt and possibly Saudi Arabia could meet the group
    on Monday.

    Asked about Israel's decision to give Palestinian leader
    Marwan Barghouti a public rather than a military trial Arafat
    said Israel had no ground to try him at all.

    "First of all, they cannot have a military trial for
    Barghouti because he is a member of the PLC," he said.

    The Palestinian Authority has said it has written to the
    United States, the United Nations, European Union member
    states and Russia to demand their intervention to prevent the
    trial.

    Israel's Justice Ministry said on Thursday it would take
    the unusual step of giving Barghouthi a public trial in a
    civilian court. Palestinians charged with involvement in
    attacks against Israelis are usually tried in military courts.

    The decision indicates Israel is confident of proving that
    Barghouthi masterminded attacks in an uprising against Israeli
    occupation and wants to publicise a case which it hopes will
    show links between the Palestinian leadership and violence.

    Opinion polls show Barghouthi, the general secretary of
    Palestinian President Yasser Arafats Fatah movement in the
    West Bank, is the most popular Palestinian politician after
    Arafat.

    Earlier on Friday hundreds of Palestinian policemen led
    the funeral march for Khaled al-Khatib, killed on Friday
    morning (July 12) by Israeli troops.

    Israeli soldiers entered the town of Deir al-Balah, near
    the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom, early in the morning and
    witnesses say the soldiers opened fire on two Palestinian
    police positions.

    Khaled al-Khatib died in the shooting and hospital sources
    say two other policemen and a civilian were wounded and that
    one of them remains in a critical condition.

    As the army retreated a Palestinian teenager, Muain
    al-Adaini was shot dead.

    A senior advisor to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
    said the escalation of Israel's military operations in Gaza
    and the West Bank was foiling all international attempts to
    minimise tension.


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