JERUSALEM/GAZA/WEST BANK: ISRAEL HAS ARRESTED MARWAN BARGHOUTHI, A SENIOR PALESTINIAN LEADER/RESCUE TEAMS IN NABULES CONTINUE TO PULL BODIES

Record ID: 639710

  • Title: JERUSALEM/GAZA/WEST BANK: ISRAEL HAS ARRESTED MARWAN BARGHOUTHI, A SENIOR PALESTINIAN LEADER/RESCUE TEAMS IN NABULES CONTINUE TO PULL BODIES
  • Date: 15th April 2002
  • Summary: (U5) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (FILE) (REUTERS) SV MARWAN BARGHOUTHI MARCHING WITH PROTESTERS MCU MARWAN BARGHOUTHI ADDRESSING RALLY
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM / GAZA / RAMALLAH, NABLUS, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA70T4UBLPLXM8YEB90ZK27MYEP
  • Story Text: Israel has arrested Marwan Barghouthi, a senior Palestinian leader it described as the head of "the most murderous terrorist group" in the West Bank.
    Palestinian rescue teams in Nablus have continued to pull bodies from under the rubble after days of pounding by Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships.
    Meanwhile, the annual memorial ceremony for Israel's fallen soldiers has taken place at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
    Israel on Monday (April 15) arrested Marwan Barghouthi, 42, a senior Palestinian leader it described as the head of "the most murderous terrorist group" in the West Bank.
    Sharon vowed to put Barghouthi on trial, but chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that would violate Israeli-Palestinian interim peace accords.
    Israeli special forces captured Barghouthi, a main co-ordinator of the 18-month-old Palestinian uprising against occupation, in a raid on a house in the city of Ramallah.
    Israeli forces involved in the West Bank offensive burst into the house and arrested Barghouthi after others inside, including his nephew, Ahmed Barghouthi, heeded the soldiers to come out and surrender, the army said.
    Israel has accused Barghouthi of leading Fatah-affiliated militants behind shooting ambushes and suicide bombings.
    Barghouthi, a member of the Fatah revolutionary council and the Palestinian Legislative Council, has denied the allegations but maintained Palestinians have a right to resist Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
    Barghouthi, who spent several years in Israeli jails and speaks fluent Hebrew, said on Israeli television before the current West Bank campaign that Sharon would be responsible for dozens of Israeli deaths if Israel killed him.
    Head of Palestinian Intelligence, Amin Al-Hindi said: "The whole Palestinian people is under arrest and so is our president. And that will not affect the spirit of the people.
    On the contrary this will increase defiance against the Israeli attacks which will not succeed in shutting people's mouths. The movement will continue and will be stronger than before. The movement is not about individuals, it's a popular Palestinian and Arabic movement."
    Palestinian rescue teams in West Bank town of Nablus on Monday continued to pull bodies from under the rubble from days of pounding by Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships.
    Israeli tanks rumbled into Nablus on April 3 as part of Israel's sweep through the West Bank following a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.
    Meanwhile, the annual memorial day for Israel's fallen soldiers was held at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem on Monday evening.
    At 8pm (1700GMT), the siren was heard and people all over Israel stood still for a minute's silence in honour of the soldiers who have died fighting for Israel in the last 54 years since the state was established.
    Israeli President Moshe Katzav lit the memorial flame in front of the Wailing Wall in the Old City as Israeli soldiers, officials and others stood nearby.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register