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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: wgh613 who wrote (2585)4/15/2002 11:44:28 AM
From: Haim R. Branisteanu  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 32591
 
Israel captures Fatah Commander Marwan Barghouti
The Jerusalem Post Internet Team

Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was arrested a short time ago by an elite IDF unit in Ramallah.

Bargouti was found in a building near the compound of Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat. After Israeli forces ordered him out with a loudspeaker, he reportedly left with his hands in the air.

Military sources estimate that he will now stand trial in a military court.

Bargouti is considered one of the most important Palestinians wanted by Israel, but in the past has been immune from assassination because of his high media profile and senior position. He has often been mentioned as a potential successor to Arafat.

In September, the Justice Ministry issued an official request to the PA for Barghouti's extradition.

Barghouti, 41, was the head of Fatah's student union at Bir Zeit University during the previous intifada and led the Fatah shabbiba (youth movement) at the university.

Israel deported Barghouti to Jordan in 1987, and he returned in 1994 with the first group of deportees who were allowed to return as part of the Oslo agreement.

Shortly after his return, he was elected secretary-general of the High Committee of Fatah in the West Bank, a position he has held ever since. He is also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Barghouti's signature was on one document confiscated from PA chairman Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah during recent IDF operations. Dated January 7, 2002, the document is a request from Raed Karmi, then head of Fatah-Tanzim in the Tulkarm area, for financial assistance for 12 Fatah terrorists. Barghouti forwarded the letter to Arafat, with a note, 'I request of you to order the allocation of $1,000 for each of the fighter brethren.'

In March, he called upon Palestinians to continue attacks on Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, saying they symbolize the humiliation of Palestinians caused by the occupation.

In the past, he has said that the Palestinians should follow the model of Hizbullah, whose guerrilla attacks, he believes, caused the IDF to withdraw from south Lebanon in May 2000.