The (far-right) Israeli site Arutz Sheva has published these excerpts from a Barhgouti interview in Al-Hayat, showing that even the start of the intifada was not exactly spontaneous. If the street was ready to explode, still it was an organized explosion:
Barghouti's Role In Starting The Oslo War
On September 29, 2001, Barghouti told the London-based Al Hayat newspaper all about his role in igniting the current Oslo War. Excerpts from his words in that article:
"I knew that the end of the month of September [2000] would be the last opportunity before the explosion, but when Sharon arrived at the Al Aqsa Mosque it was the [most suitable] moment for the breakout of the Intifada. This is because the subject concerns Jerusalem, and even more it regards Al Aqsa. The meaning of this: setting fire to the entire region, and specifically [due to the fact] that the issue of Al Aqsa inflames and ignites the sensibilities of the masses.
"On the eve of Sharon's visit I participated in a TV panel, on a local TV station. I found this to be the right opportunity to call upon the public to go to Al Aqsa on the following morning because it is not possible for Sharon to arrive at the [Temple Mount] 'just like that' and walk away peacefully. I was determined... [The next day] I was dissatisfied with the small attendance, and when friction did not occur, I became angry. We tried to create friction, but with no success...
"There were those who were opposed to the conflict. At the same time, I saw within the situation a historic opportunity to ignite the conflict...
"After Sharon left, I had stayed in the area for two hours with other well known people and we spoke about the character of the reaction and of how people should react in all the towns and villages and not only in Jerusalem. We made contact with all the factions... [The next day], when I arrived in the Old City, the conflict had started already and no one could either enter or leave... Close to 3,000 people barricaded the area. The situation was war. By definition. Now, more then ever I felt as if the city of Jerusalem was burning. I also felt that there was a good Jerusalemite and Palestinian response. Through the media I called to turn the next day into a day of solidarity with Jerusalem.
"[That evening] while we were in the vehicle on our way to the Arab Triangle [inside pre-1967 Israel], I prepared a proclamation on behalf of the high Fatah committee in coordination with the brothers in which we called upon [upon the people] to react to what happened in Jerusalem. When I came back to Ramallah I continued the talks with the contacts I had gathered around me regarding the character of our activity and the continuation of the reaction."
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