A senior Palestinian official rejected as a "lie" Israeli claims that confessions by captured Fatah leader, Marwan Barghouthi, link the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, directly to the financing of attacks on Israeli targets.
"This is a lie," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP. "We are used to hearing these things from the Israeli side."
According to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, Barghouthi told his questioners that when an activist wanted to carry out an attack, he had to fill out a detailed request for funding and weapons and hand it in to Barghouthi, who would sign it and pass it along to Arafat for final approval.
However, the Israelis did not provide transcripts of Barghouthi's statements or provide any other evidence to support the report, which was released in a three-page statement from the prime minister's office.
They also would not describe the conditions under which Barghouthi is being held. Since his capture last month, Barghouthi has complained to his lawyer that he has been permitted only short periods of sleep and been questioned around the clock for days at a time.
However Barghouthi’s attorney, Khader Shikerat, said the Israel allegations are false because the Fatah leader has refused to cooperate with his investigation.
"Marwan Barghouthi has refused to answer investigators' questions," Shikerat told AFP. "These allegations are false."
Erakat for his part he was worried the Israeli report was issued in order to justify the possible arrest of Arafat. "What we are scared of is that Israel, through this lie, will try to hurt Barghouthi and President Arafat," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
