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Marwan Barghouti's Connection to Terror. Documents seized during Operation Defensive Shield linking Marwan Barghouti to terrorist activities. Information on Marwan and Ahmed Barghouti. Terrorist Attacks and Activities Carried out by the Field Commanders and Activists. Interview by Marwan Barghouti to "Al Hayat".

Marwan Barghouti's Connection to Terror (15.4.02)

Communicated by the IDF Spokesman

Muhammad Abdullah, a taxi driver from Bir-Nabalah and a Tanzim-Fatah operative, who was arrested during Operation Defensive Shield, related during questioning that he committed the shooting attack on the French Hill-Ramot road in Jerusalem, in which an Israeli woman was killed, on the request of Marwan Barghouti.

In addition he participated in aiding the infiltration of a terrorist who caried out a shooting attack on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, in which two Israelis were killed. Muhammad said that after Raed Karmi was killed, Barghouti demanded that his cell members carry out a revenge terrorist attack that same day. They received this instruction from his assistant and right-hand man, Ahmed Barghouti. A few hours later the cell members carried out a shooting attack on an Israeli vehicle near a gas station in Givat Ze'ev, in which one Israeli woman was killed and another injured.

Additional information discovered during the questioning of several Tanzim operatives detained in Operation Defensive Shield points to the direct involvement of Marwan Barghouti in terror, as expressed among others in his ordering of terror attacks, the funding of terrorist activity and the supply of weapons to the terrorists.

Following are several examples:

• Bilal Barghouti - resident of Beit Rima, senior Hamas operative arrested by IDF forces in the Preventative Intelligence Headquarters in Bitunia. He related that during the time he was wanted by the Israelis he lived a short while in Marwan Barghouti's house. During his stay there he saw a number of weapons, and when he left the house Barghouti armed him with a gun for his use.

• Majad Ziada, resident of Ramallah, related that he participated in many shooting attacks against the Israeli security forces and against Israelis. Six months ago he participated in a shooting attack on the Beit-El bypass road, in a shooting attack on an IDF base in Bitunia, a shooting attack in the Tira area, and several other shooting attacks in which there were no casualties. In at least two attacks the terrorist cell carrying out the shooting attacks used a silver Mazda 323 belonging to the son of Marwan Barghouti.

• Amir Abu Radha, resident of Ramallah, Tanzim operative, related that he participated in many shooting attacks against Israeli security forces and against Israeli villages near Ramallah. He also related that he and his terrorist cell received extensive logistical aid in the purchase of weapons and ammunition, as well as paychecks from Marwan Barghouti.

• Bashar Barghouti - resident of El-Bira, graduated from medical school in Iraq, worked as a specializing doctor in the Al-Mukassed Hospital in Ramallah. He related that he heard from another military activist who was involved in shooting attacks, that he gave Barghouti a '87 Subaru vehicle in which terrorists planned to infiltrate into Israel and carry out suicide attacks.

• Haitam Hamdan, resident of Beit-Sira, military operative in the Al-Aqsa brigades, who was arrested by IDF forces in the Preventative Intelligence building in Bitunia, and who was involved in two shooting attacks on the Atarot road, related that he received assistance and guidance in his activities directly from Ahmed Barghouti, with the knowledge of Marwan Barghouti.

Documents seized during Operation Defensive Shield linking Marwan Barghouti to terrorist activities (15.4.02)

(Communicated by Israeli security sources)

1. The following letter details how Marwan Barghouti, the head of the West Bank Fatah/Tanzim, ordered the return a confiscated M-16 rifle to a terrorist, after the latter explained that he had used the weapon only against Israel:

In the name of Allah, the Merciful and the Compassionate Palestine Liberation Organization National Liberation Movement - FATAH State of Palestine Tubas District Brother Abu Al-Kassam [alias for Marwan Barghouti], Secretary General of the FATAH in the West Bank - May Allah preserve him. Greetings of the Homeland and Jerusalem Re: Return of confiscated M16 rifle I would like to ask for your assistance in the return of a confiscated M16 rifle. The rifle was confiscated by the Preventive Security Apparatus in Tubas three months ago. The rifle was in the possession of the following: 1. Haled Fahri Haled Degharma/Tubas/wanted 2. Riad Freh Salahat/Wadi Albeedan/in detention At the time of the confiscation, we were operating, secretly, as part of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade. Our operator was Brother Haled Shawish. At that time, no report of the matter was filed. Furthermore, there were no attempts to return the rifle. It should be noted that we purchased the gun with our own money and no use has been made of it except against the Occupation. We hope you will involve yourself in the affair, for nationalistic as well as moral reasons, and help us get the confiscated weapon back. We need it in the present situation for self-defense as well as for activity relating to the struggle, which is so necessary right now. Great Honor and Esteem Revolution Until Victory Haled Fahri Haled Degharmah August 5, 2001 [translator's note: addition in handwriting:] To Brother Jabril (Abu Rami), God preserve him. Blessings of the Homeland. I request the return of the weapon to the brothers or suitable monetary compensation. Thank you and all the best. Marwan Barghouti

2. The following document is a letter from Marwan Barghouti to Yasser Arafat, requesting financial support for wanted terrorists:

Honored Comrade President Abu Amar [alias for Yasser Arafat] - may Allah watch over him, With blessings for a return to our homeland. I request your Excellency's decision to allocate $3,000 as assistance for each of the brothers listed below, who are wanted by the occupation authorities and are entitled to help: 1. Mayid Jabar Shahin 2. Mahmoud Salah Mustafa 3. Tha'ir Muhammad Sa'id 4. Jassar Abed Alrahim Aldik 5. Yusef Ahmed Salah 6. Tala't Abed Alrahim 7. Hassan Ibrahim Faraj 8. Adel Ahmed 9. Abed Alsalam Shukri 10. Khaled Muhammad 11. Abed Alnasser Oud 12. Akrame Muhammad Khader 13. Muhammad Ibrahim Eid 14. Ahmed Muhammad Sbag 15. Ayad Hassan Assad 16. Amin Atta Shuma 17. Adib Muhammad Assad 18. Sami Abdelrahman 19. Muhammad Na'if 20. Nadal Ahmed Samara. The matter is for your consideration. May you be a symbol of our homeland and our nation forever The Supreme Committee for Movement Affairs Marwan Al Barghouti

3. The following document is a letter addressed by Palestinian terrorists in Jerusalem to Marwan Barghouti, requesting that he appeal to Yasser Arafat on their behalf for financial support:

In the name of Allah the merciful and the compassionate The State of Palestine Al Kuds [Jerusalem] District Telefax: ... The Palestine National Liberation Movement Fatah Comrade in arms Marwan Al Barghouti, may Allah watch over him [in handwriting: Comrade Ahmed Ghanem] Blessings for the homeland The brothers whose names are listed below are among the activists in the struggle in holy Al Kuds [Jerusalem]. They are in desperate need of assistance. We ask you to appeal to the President for help for those listed below: 1. Muhammad Marwan Yakub 2. Muhammad Fathi Tufik Mustafa 3. Mahmoud Rahab Muhammad Nimr 4. Ibrahim Abed Alrahman Zayad 5. Iyad Abed Alrahman Mahmoud Nimr 6. Safa'a Abdallah 7. Hassan Khalil Zahaika 8. Yusef Issa Yakub Stamp: Holy Al Kuds District Your brothers: Muhammad Khaled Jamal Muhammad Fathi ID: 055530890 Tel: XXX XXXXXX

4. The following document is a letter addressed by a group of Palestinian terrorists to Marwan Barghouti, requesting financial support and ammunition. Barghouti approved payment:

[in handwriting] Al Shumali [note: Abd el Rahman al Shulami, a close Barghouti aide]: Continue implementation, prepare a list of payments according to names, for disbursal of assistance. [Signed] Marwan Barghouti In the name of Allah the merciful and the compassionate Comrade in arms Abu Al-Kassam [alias for Marwan Barghouti], may Allah watch over him. Blessings of the Fatah organization and the honor of belonging to the organization Re: Help for the wanted I should like to inform you that I, together with a group of my wanted colleagues, appeal to you as a last resort for help and assistance in the severe financial situation in which we find ourselves. I should like to update you and tell you that we have been active for over six months and carry out high quality actions for our struggle. We have fallen into a state in which we have no money and no ammunition. At the moment we have no resources and we are trying to obtain them in the form of a loan, in the hope that whatever is taken by us will be returned later to its owners. We have a problem with regard to allocations. The cell has not received its allocations from the Tanzim for over four months. This problem has led to our situation deteriorating and our ability to act and contribute has been reduced. In addition, many members of the cell are married and their families are suffering under a heavy financial burden. As we have noted, we are wanted by the occupation authorities and this adds to our problems. We are now unable to pay rent. I am the only one to receive the sum of nis 500 a month from the District Command, because I am the only one of the cell members who is a member of the District Committee. In view of the above, it is my hope that the situation of our cell will be examined and that we will be given what we are due in terms of the necessary ammunition and equipment. Our cell numbers seven members. Together for the achievement of our national goals Your brother, Khaled Abed Alaziz Mahmoud Sif - member of the Nablus District Committee Identity no. 9037355140 Mobile: XXX XXXXXX The bearer of this letter is the mother of a member of the cell.

Information on Marwan and Ahmed Barghouti (15.4.02)

(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)

Marwan Hatib Barghouti - Ramallah

On April 14, 2002 an IDF force in Ramallah arrested Marwan Barghouti, head of the Fatah supreme committee in the West Bank and leader of the military wing of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, which between September 2000 - April 2002 carried out thousands of terror attacks against Israel, including suicide bombings.

1. Marwan Barghouti Served as Secretary General of Fatah in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, a member of the Palestinian legislature, head of the Tanzim, and the founder of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades which has carried out a large number of deadly terrorist attacks killing scores of Israelis and wounding hundreds.

2. In the framework of his activities, he has received large amounts of funds from different sources both inside and outside Israel. Among these sources is the Palestinian Authority. The specific allocations of these funds were authorized by the actual signature of Yassser Arafat. These funds were used by Marwan Barghouti to finance many activities carried out by terror cells in the West Bank.

3. Marwan Barghouti served as the most senior official in the Al-Aqsa Brigades. Nasser Avis, who was recently captured in Samaria, and Ahmed Barghouti, who was Marwan Barghouti's personal assistant, reported directly to him. These two served as his operational officers and, under the initiative of Marwan Barghouti, launched dozens of attacks, including a large number of suicide bombings within Israel.

4. The following are some of the more heinous terror attacks for which Marwan Barghouti is responsible:

• Jun 12, 2001 - The murder of a Greek Orthodox monk on the road to Ma'ale Adumim.

• Jan 17, 2002 - The shooting attack during a bat mitzva celebration at a banquet hall in Hadera. Six Israelis were killed in this attack, 26 were injured.

• Jan 22, 2002 - The shooting spree on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem. Two Israelis were killed, 37 wounded.

• Feb 25, 2002 - The shooting attack in the Jerusalem residential neighborhood of Neve Ya'acov. One Israeli policewoman was killed, 9 Israelis were wounded.

• Feb 27, 2002 - The murder of an Israeli at a coffee factory in the Atarot industrial zone of Jerusalem.

• Feb 27, 2002 - The suicide attack perpetrated by Daryan Abu Aysha at the Maccabim checkpoint in which two policeman were injured.

• Mar 5, 2002 - The shooting spree at the Tel Aviv Seafood restaurant. Three Israelis were killed, 31 wounded.

• Mar 8, 2002 - A suicide terrorist was killed in Daheat el Barid as he was on his way to carry out an attack in Jerusalem.

• Mar 27, 2002 - The interception of an ambulance and the confiscation of an explosive belt which was being smuggled from Samaria into Barghouti's terrorist infrastructure in Ramallah.

• Marwan Barghouti was also directly responsible for operating the terrorist cell of Raed Karmi in Tulkaram which carried out a series of deadly terrorist attacks.

Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti

1. Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti was arrested on April 15, 2002 in a joint operation between the IDF and the Israel Security Agency. Ahmed is a relative of Marwan Barghouti, the head of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military branch of Fatah's Tanzim.

2. Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti was born in 1976 and originally resided in the government projects in El Bireh. Since 1997 he has been known as Marwan Barghouti's driver, although in actuality he has served as Marwan Barghouti's senior aide. In 1999 he joined the Palestinian police. He was a member of the terror cell which carried out many shooting attacks against IDF soldiers in the area around Ramallah. Since the year 2001, he has served as Marwan Barghouti's bureau chief and as the director and coordinator of terrorist attacks against Israel, under the direction of Marwan Barghouti.

3. Since the beginning of 2002 he has stood at the head of the Ramallah Al-Aqsa Brigades and has acted under the direction of Marwan Barghouti, with the knowledge of Yasser Arafat and in coodination with Nasser Avis from Nablus in carrying out suicide terror attacks within Israel.

4. Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti has directed and carried out the following terror attacks in 2002:

• Jan 22, 2002 - The shooting spree on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem. Two Israelis were killed, 37 wounded.

• Jan 17, 2002 - Three terrorists were arrested on their way from Nablus to Ramallah where they were to meet Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti. From their meeting, the terrorists were to go on their way to Jerusalem where they were to carry out a suicide terrorist attack.

• Feb 25, 2002 - The shooting attack in the Jerusalem residential neighborhood of Neve Yaacov. One Israeli policewoman was killed, 9 Israelis were wounded.

• Feb 27, 2002 - The murder of an Israeli at a coffee factory in the Atarot industrial zone of Jerusalem.

• Feb 27, 2002 - The suicide attack perpetrated by Daryan Abu Aysha and the Maccabim checkpoint in which two policeman were injured.

• Mar 5, 2002 - The shooting spree at the Tel Aviv Seafood restaurant Three Israelis were killed, 31 wounded.

• Mar 8, 2002 - The interception of a suicide terrorist with an explosive belt along with his handler in Daheat el Barid. The attack was thwarted.

• Mar 27, 2002 - The interception of an ambulance and the confiscation of an explosive belt which was being smuggled from Samaria into in Ramallah, under the coordination of Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti.

• Additionally, Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti planned to send an additional suicide terrorist who was arrested once the IDF entered Ramallah.

Over the course of the year 2002 the name of Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti was submitted to the Palestinian Security Forces a number of times. The Palestinian Security Forces refused to arrest him and even warned him about Israel's knowledge of his hostile terrorist activities.

Statement of Indictment: Marwan Bin Khatib Barghouti (14.8.02)

- Appendix -

Terrorist Attacks and Activities Carried out by the Field Commanders and Activists

	Date	Involved	Place of Incident	Terrorist Activities	Result of Terrorist Attack
1.	21.12.2000 Time: Approx. 20:30	Nasser Abu Hamid, Ahmed Andur	Road 443, close to Givat Zeev	Shooting attack on a vehicle	One killed - the late Eliyahu Cohen
2.	31.12.2000 Time: 6:30	Nasser Abu Hamid, Ahmed Barghouti, Ahmed Andur and other activists	Road 60, close to the settlement Ofra	Shooting attack towards a vehicle. Nasser received the weapon from Ahmed.	2 killed - the late Binyamin and Talia Kahane
3.	25.1.2001 Time: 18:15	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Jad Ma'ala	Atarot	Shooting attack	One killed - the late Akiva Pashkos
4.	12.06.2001	Ismail Radaida, Muhaned Abu Halawa	Jerusalem - Ma'aleh Adumim Road	Shooting attack	One killed - Georgios Tsibouktzakis, Greek-Orthodox monk
5.	25.08.2001 Time: 22:30	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Husam Shehade, Fares Ghanem, Tarik Malahi, Heitham Hamdan, Ali Alyan	Road 443, close to the "Dor Energy" petrol station	Shooting attack	3 killed - The late Yaniv Ben-Shalom, Sharon Ben-Shalom, Doron Yosef Sviri Injured - daughter of Yaniv and Sharon Ben-Shalom
6.	15.9.2001 Time: Approx. 23:10	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Fares Ghanem, Khaled Shawish, Heitham Hamdan, Husam Shehade, Muhammad Abdullah, Ali Alyan	Road No. 9, close to the junction leading to the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in Jerusalem	Shooting attack	Killed - the late Meir Weisshois One person severely wounded
7.	15.1.2002 Time: Approx. 19:45	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Muhammad Abdullah, Fares Ghanem, Zeidan Al-Badawi	Hagivonim Fuel Station, Road 443, close to the entrance to Givat Zeev	Shooting attack	Killed - the late Yoela Chen One person wounded
8.	17.01.2002 Time: Approx. 22:45	Nasser Aweis, Abdul Salam Hasouna (attacker), Ahmed Abu Khadr, Yasser Am Bakr	Hadera, "Armon David" banqueting hall	Shooting attack	6 killed - the late Anatoly Bakshayev, Edward Bakshayev, Aharon Ben Yisrael-Ellis, Dina Binayev, Boris Melikhov, Avi Yazdi Dozens injured
9.	22.01.2002 Time: Approx. 16:30	Nasser Aweis, Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Said Ramadan (attacker), Fares Ghanem, Muhammad Abdullah, Mahmoud Titi	Jerusalem center, Jaffa St. Corner of Lunz St.	Shooting attack	2 killed - the late Svetlana Sandler, Sarah Hamburger More than 45 injured
10.	25.02.0202 Evening	Ahmed Barghouti, Nasser Aweis, Rami Nizar (attacker), Tarek Malahi, Ziyad Ramadan, Sharif Abu Hamid, Halum Abu Hamid, Kamal Ghanem (transporter)	Jerusalem, Neve Yaakov neighborhood	Shooting attack	Policewoman killed - the late Galit Arbiv 16 injured
11.	27.2.2002 Time: Approx. 7:00	Nasser Abu Hamid, Majid Hashem, Ramzi Barash, Haithem	"Bashkewitz" factory - Atarot	Shooting attack	One killed - the late Gad Rejwan
12.	5.3.2002 Time: Approx. 2:30	Nasser Aweis, Ahmed Barghouti, Nasser Abu Hamid, Ibrahim Hasouna (attacker), Sharif Abu Hamid, Tarek Malahi, Mahmoud Titi, Murad Ajluni and Mazen Alkadi (transporters)	Tel-Aviv "Sea Food Market"	Shooting attack and stabbing attack	3 killed - the late St.Sgt-Maj Salim Barakat, Eli Dahan, Yosef Habi Dozens injured
13.	9.3.2002 Time: Approx. 20:30	Nasser Aweis, Shahdi al-Najimi and Said Bata (attackers), Mahmoud Titi, Ahmed Abu Khadr	Netanya, Jeremy Hotel, Gad Machnes St.	Shooting attack	2 killed - the late Avia Malka (one year old), Israel Yihye Dozens injured
14.	30.3.2002 Time: Approx. 13:30	Nasser Aweis, Majdi Hanfar and Fathi Amiri (attackers), Mahmoud Titi, Ahmed Abu Khadr	Near Baka Al-Gharbiyya	Shooting attack	Border policeman killed, the late Constantine Danilov Another policeman injured
15.	October 2000	Nasser Abu Hamid	IDF outpost near City Inn Hotel in Ramallah	Shooting attack
16.	December 2000	Nasser Abu Hamid, Muhammad Amuasi, Nadr "Halum" Abu Hamid, and others	Ofer Israeli army base	Shooting attack
17.	February 2001	Nasser Abu Hamid, Muhaned Abu Halawa, Jad Ma'ala, Ziyad Wahdan, Muhammad Muteir	Dirt road leading to Central Command base in Neve Yaakov	Planting of explosive device	The attackers were caught by security forces and the attack was prevented
18.	25.2.2001 Time: Approx. 13:15	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhaned Abu Halawa, Muhammad Musalah, Tarek Malahi	Atara bridge	Shooting attack	One person seriously wounded
19.	After the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada	Nasser Aweis	Nablus, IDF outpost, Joseph's Tomb; IDF guard post at Har Gerizim, the Ein Beit camp; IDF patrols in the Balata refugee camp and military targets in the Hawara camp region	Shooting attack
20.	18.5.2001	Nasser Abu Hamid, Saad A-Din Jabar (attacker), Ahmed Shahin	Biancini Pub Jerusalem	Planting of explosive device	The attack was prevented when the device was discovered by the proprietor
21.	June 2001 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhaned Abu Halawa, Ziyad Hamuda, Mamoun Abu Shama, Haithem Izat, Said Abrash, Ahmed Abu Alam	Psagot	Shooting attack	They approached Marwan Barghouti with a request to supply them with arms to carry out the attack. Weapons were transferred by Muhaned Abu Halawa on Marwan Barghouti's orders.
22.	26.6.2001 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhaned Abu Halawa, Ziyad Hamuda, Mamoun Abu Shama, Haithem Izat	Road from Pisgat Zeev to French Hill, Jerusalem	Attempted shooting attack	The attack was not carried out because the attackers did not manage to reach the target due to a large IDF presence.
23.	3.10.2001 Time: Approx. 23:35	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Muhammad Abdullah, Husam Shehade, Fares Ghanem	Jerusalem, Begin Boulevard	Shooting attack	The bullets missed the moving vehicle
24.	3.10.2001 Time: Approx. 23:45	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Musalah, Muhammad Abdullah	Road No. 9 in the direction of French Hill	Shooting Attack	2 people wounded
25.	January 2002	Nasser Abu Hamid, Muhaned Abu Halawa, 3 attackers	IDF checkpoint at Kalandiya	Attempted suicide attack	The attack was prevented after one of the activists changed his mind.
26.	Beginning of 2002	Nasser Abu Hamid, Muhaned Abu Halawa, Abdul Basat, Ali Barghouti	Psagot settlement	Launch of 2 mortars received from Marwan Barghouti
27.	End of January beginning of February 2002, or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Zafer Rimawi, Mujahed Rimawi, Halum Abu Hamid, Muhammad Abdullah, Fares Ghanem, Tarek Malahi	Jerusalem	Attempted suicide attack	Not carried out because the attacker changed his mind and fled.
28.	Beginning of February 2002	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Naifa, Abdul Karim Aweis, Muhaned Al-Shaar (attacker)	Unknown location in Israel	Attempted suicide attack	Suicide attack not carried out because the attacker changed his mind and fled.
29.	17.2.2002	Nasser Aweis, Ahmed Barghouti, Mahmoud Titi, Ahmed Abu Khadr, Saadi Makbul and Ala'a Hassan, Ayman Badr, Ula Mustapha	Jerusalem	Attempted suicide attack	2 terrorists caught
30.	Mid-February 2002 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Muhammad Abdullah, Husam Shehade, Fares Ghanem	Jerusalem	Suicide attack	The attack was not carried out due to the arrest of Shehade on 17.2.02, Ghanem a day later, and the arrest of Abdullah on 20.2.02, by Israeli security forces.
31.	End of February 2002	Nasser Abu Hamid, Abdul Karim Aweis, Ghassan Satiti	Inside the Green Line	Attempted suicide attack	The attack was not carried out as the attacker fled after seeing IDF soldiers.
32.	March 2002 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Mahmoud Titi, Fayez (attacker), Tarek Malahi, Zeidan Hamdan	Unknown location in Israel	Attempted suicide attack	The attack was stopped by the security forces.
33.	8.3.2002	Nasser Aweis, Ahmed Barghouti, Luai Oda, Mahmoud Salah (attacker), Khaled Halabi, Ghandi Oda, Khaled Shawish, Mahmoud Titi	Jerusalem	Attempted suicide attack	The attacker was caught near Beit Hanina by Border Police.
34.	17.3.2002 Time: 6:45 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Majid Ahmed Ziada, Luai Mansi, Rafat Salah	Beit El-Psagot road	Shooting attack	One person wounded
35.		Nasser Aweis	1. Homesh settlement 2. Planting an explosive device on the Zuata-Asira bypass road 3. Military patrol in Dir Sharef 4. Planting of a device at Sira	Supply of weapons used for shooting attacks
36.	26.3.2002 Time: 10:30 or thereabouts	Ahmed Barghouti, Jawad Jawara	Jerusalem, Malha Mall	Attempted suicide attack	The two attackers were arrested by IDF forces.
37.	April 2002 (close to the beginning of Operation Defensive Shield)	Nasser Abu Hamid	Ramallah	Hand grenades thrown and a LAW missile launched at Israeli tanks.

Interview by Marwan Barghouti to "Al Hayat" (29.9.01)

In a September 29, 2001 interview to the "Al Hayat" newspaper, published in London, Marwan Barghouti exposed his role in igniting the "Al-Aqsa Intifada".

Following are selected excerpts from the newspaper article, including quotations by Barghouti as told to the reporter Hashem Abdallah:

"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 strongest (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 [El-Haram Al-Sharif] 'just like that' and walk away peacefully. I was determined, and early the next morning I went to Al-Aqsa."

"Sincerely, when I arrived at the area of the mosque, I was surprised by the people who had arrived. The gathering there consisted entirely of Palestinians of 1948, eight of them Israeli-Arab members of the parliament and over 60 other well-known people. 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 - due to conflicts of opinions that emerged with other people surrounding the friction created at the Al Aqsa square at the time."

"We did not need a war. The issue is completely different. War breaks out according to the decision of the president or the commander of the military. The Intifada however, was not ignited by a person or a group of people, but it evolved from reaching deeply into the feeling of the masses. 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. The strongest conflict is the one that initiated from Jerusalem due to the sensitivity of the city, its uniqueness and its special place in the hearts of the masses who are willing to sacrifice themselves [for her] with not even thinking of the cost."

"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."

When Barghouti left Jerusalem that same night, he knew very well that he would return there in several hours. He returned on Friday morning in order to witness the outbreak of the Intifada.

"When I arrived to the Old City, the conflict had started already and no-one could either enter or leave. I went towards Salah A-Din Street and it was closed. I then went to the area of A-Tur to the hospital Elmakuasad in order to examine the condition of the hurt and the wounded. When we came near the area, the conflict arrived there. 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."

"While we were in the vehicle on our way to the Arab Triangle, I prepared a proclamation on behalf of the high Fatah committee in coordination with the brothers [apparently the Hamas] in which we called upon [opon 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."

Barghouti makes it clear that matters had not yet been fully established, though the reaction on the last Saturday of the month of September tipped the scales in the other directions, and no-one could do anything, even though pressures were operated, in order to stop the human flood on All the conquered lands?".

Israeli MFA.