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War on Terror

Justice minister: Arafat may be next


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
May 20, 2004

The option of putting PLO chief Yasser Arafat on trial for his innumerable crimes against the Jewish people was placed back on the table Thursday after one of the mass murder’s close associates was convicted by a Tel Aviv court.

Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was found guilty of direct involvement in three terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of five people since the outbreak of the “Palestinian” terror offensive in September 2000.

While he was acquitted of murdering 33 other Israelis, the three judge panel noted Barghouti was not far removed from their deaths.

The verdict also pointed an accusing finger at Arafat, whom the judges noted provided Barghouti and other terror chiefs with instruction and direction.

Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said the conviction had opened the door for Israel to consider bringing the arch terrorist to justice.

Guilty of murder

Following a two-year murder trial, Fatah terror chief Marwan Barghouti was convicted by the Tel Aviv District Court Thursday of overseeing three terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of five people since the outbreak of the “Palestinian” terror offensive in September 2000.

Barghouti was also convicted of attempted murder for approving a Jerusalem car bombing in 2002, as well as with membership in a terrorist organization.

He was acquitted of direct involvement in 33 other murders due to lack of evidence.

But while Barghouti “most of the time did not have direct contact with the field operatives who carried out the attacks,” the verdict read, he “…was responsible for providing the field units with money and arms…”

The prosecution is seeking five life sentences for the terrorist.

Arafat is next

In response to the conviction, and as a direct result of details brought to light by the verdict, Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid said Israel might soon bring PLO chief Yasser Arafat to trial.

“After this conviction, it is likely that we will consider trying Arafat, too,” Ma’ariv quoted Lapid as saying.

Judge Sarah Sirotta, reading from the verdict, said that while “Arafat would never give explicit orders for this or that attack…he let it be known when the timing would be right.”

"[Arafat] made sure his subordinates understood very well when he was interested in a ceasefire and when he was interested in terror attacks against Israel,” according to the court’s statement.

Lapid explained Arafat had not been brought to justice earlier because of Israel’s desire to avoid the international outcry that would surely accompany any attempt to punish the mass murderer.

Marwan Barghouti

Before his capture by IDF troops in 2002, Barghouti was the active head of the Tanzim and Al Aqsa Brigades “military wings” of Fatah, and a direct subordinate of Arafat.

He was also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Barghouti has consistently been polled as the second most popular “Palestinian” leader after Arafat.

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