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Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - Web posted at 10:14:21 am GMT

TEL AVIV, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Israel began its first civilian trial of a leader of the Palestinian uprising on Wednesday, 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 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, told reporters 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.

At least 1,498 Palestinians and 588 Israelis have been killed since the revolt began after peace talks stalled.

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 attorneys, Jawad Boulos, told reporters.

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.

BARGHOUTHI DEMANDS TO SPEAK

Once the largely technical proceedings got under way, Barghouthi demanded to be heard.

"When can I speak? When can I speak?" he implored from the dock.

"You cannot speak right now. You have excellent lawyers. When the time comes, you can speak. This is a procedural session right now," Gurfinkel replied.

Israel hopes the trial will show that senior Palestinian leaders were directly involved in orchestrating attacks against Israelis in the uprising.

Witnesses listed on the indictment included two detained Palestinians, Nasser Abu Hmeid and Nasser Awais, identified by Israeli authorities as Barghouthi's deputies.

Chen said the prosecution case would be based on their testimony, "statements (Barghouthi) made during interrogation" and documents Israeli forces seized in raids on Palestinian offices in the West Bank.

But legal analysts say it the case could boomerang against Israel as Barghouthi's lawyers could use the media spotlight to present their client as the victim of a politically motivated bid to discredit the Palestinian Authority.

"We want to claim...that Israel carried out crimes against international covenants and laws," Boulos, referring to Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, told reporters.

Abbas Zaki, a member of the central committee of Fatah, predicted Israel's decision to make an example of Barghouthi would backfire and turn him into a "great national symbol" for the Palestinians.

Polls taken since he was jailed showed a rise in his standing among Palestinians to second place behind Arafat.

Israeli special forces captured Barghouthi in a private West Bank house where he was hiding from Israeli forces during a military offensive launched in response to a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.

He learned his Hebrew from previous stints in Israeli jails during the 1987 to 1993 Palestinian uprising. Nampa-Reuters 0924 140802 WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 140928)

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