ARABS-ISRAEL - May 20 - Court Convicts Arafat Aide In Killings.

An Israeli court convicts one of the most senior Palestinian officials, Marwan Barghouti on murder charges relating to attacks that killed 5 Israelis, brushing aside his protestations that Israel had no right to try him. Barghouti had been accused of planning assaults that killed a total of 26 people, but the court acquitted him of charges relating to 21 slayings, saying there was "no evidence the defendant knew of the intention to carry them out". He was also found guilty on one count of attempted murder relating to a failed car bomb attack and due to be sentenced on June 6. The prosecution demanded that Barghouti, 44, be sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the 5 killings. He remained defiant as the court in Tel Aviv prepared to announce its verdict. He raised his hands and shouted in Arabic saying: "This is a court of occupation that I do not accept. So long as occupation continues, the uprising will not stop. As long as Palestinian mothers are weeping, Israeli mothers will also weep". But Barghouti insisted that in principle he is against killing innocents on either side. The convictions comes on the 4th day of a major Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip that has claimed about 40 lives among Palestinians. No Israeli losses have been reported. Referring to PM Sharon, Barghouti says: "If Sharon leaves Gaza, the entire situation will change".