Gisele Halimi, a Tunisia-born Jewish lawyer who made a name for herself by defending Algerians fighting French rule, said Saturday she would represent West Bank Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti during his trial in Israel.
Halimi, 75, said at a press conference in Jerusalem that she met Friday with Barghouti in prison for an hour and he agreed that she should defend him at his next court appearance, on Oct 3.
Halimi, who is French, said the Israeli charges are not backed by evidence. "Who is Marwan? What has he said? What has he written?" she asked. "We can't talk here of any real proof or facts."
"Marwan Barghuti is a man of peace, a man of negotiation, an academic, a doctor of political science. All this made me decide to help him," added Halimi.
"He is absolutely convinced of the need for negotiations and to put an end to the occupation and to create two free states (Israel and Palestine), living beside each other," she said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
