West Bank Fateh leader, Marwan Barghouti, described Saturday the Israeli press as a tool of the Shin Bet (Israel’s security service), Haaretz newspaper quoted him as telling Voice of Palestine Radio.
Barghouti also said that the Arab press should not interview Israeli officials, in an effort to prevent a feeling of normalization in relations between the Jewish state and the Arab world.
Meanwhile, the paper quoted Barghuouthi as denying Friday that he intended to dismantle the “National-Islamic Leadership of the Intifada,” and create a “Popular Committee” in its place. The Palestinian Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quoted Barghouti on Thursday as suggesting that a new Intifada strategy, emphasizing a more populist opposition to the Israeli occupation, would be implemented.
Al-Hayat reported that Barghouti announced that the organizing body running the ‘Al Aqsa Intifada’ would change its name to reflect the intended change in the character of the Intifada.
Barghouti emphasized Friday that the Palestinians wish to increase the number of participants in the Intifada, but that there is no plan to break up the “National-Islamic Leadership.”
