Palestinian court condemns 'confessed spy'

By JUSTIN HUGGLER

JERUSALEM - A Palestinian former researcher for Israel's leading human rights organisation was yesterday sentenced to death by a Palestinian court on charges of collaborating with the Shin Bet Israeli intelligence service.

In a public confession that almost certainly followed sessions in the torture chambers of Gaza, Haidar Ghanem told a press conference in August that he had passed information to Shin Bet.

Even if that confession is true, Mr Ghanem has made serious allegations that he was blackmailed into collaborating by Shin Bet agents who threatened to post pictures of him talking to Israeli officers on the streets of Gaza.

His former employers at the human rights group B'Tselem yesterday accused Shin Bet of endangering the lives of its researchers by "cynically" allowing him to use his work for the organisation as cover.

The future for Mr Ghanem is bleak. To date, 18 Palestinians have been sentenced to death for collaboration by the Palestinian courts. Although only two have actually gone before firing squads, others have been dragged from their cells by angry mobs and killed.

Mr Ghanem's case highlights the atrocious practice of the Palestinian courts. His trial lasted two and a half hours, according to B'Tselem. He was given no chance to defend himself. Almost the only evidence offered against him was his own confession, and that came after time in the Palestinian cells, where, B'Tselem and other human rights groups have said, torture and beatings are standard practice.

A traffic policeman told the court he had witnessed Mr Ghanem hanging around for an hour before two cars carrying senior members of Yasser Arafat's Fatah drove past. As they passed, Mr Ghanem made a phone call. Four of the passengers died minutes later when Israeli forces opened fire on the cars.

In his confession, Mr Ghanem said he knew nothing of the assassination plan. He has claimed that he was originally sucked into collaborating with Shin Bet when he worked for what he believed to be an Israeli news agency in Jerusalem. When he tried to leave the agency, he has said, the threat to display pictures of him talking with Israeli officers on the streets of Gaza was made. Pictures like that could easily have got him killed in Gaza.

"In many instances the Israeli security services have blackmailed people into collaborating," said Lior Yavne, a spokesman for B'Tselem. "It's a violation of international law, which prohibits forcing anyone to collaborate."

B'Tselem is the leading Israeli human rights watchdog, which has consistently researched and condemned violations by both sides in the conflict here. In a statement yesterday it condemned the Palestinian court hearing, and the use of capital punishment.

Mr Ghanem's only hope now lies with Yasser Arafat, who must personally approve all death sentences. Even if Mr Arafat saves him, he will still be at the mercy of the mob.

- INDEPENDENT

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