Israel captures key Arafat aid

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Posted 2:42PM on Monday, April 15, 2002

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Israeli soldiers and elite forces on Monday captured Marwan Barghouti, a close aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and a leader of a group that has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against Israel, including suicide bombings. The detention came on a day of both fighting and diplomacy, with Secretary of State Colin Powell shuttling among Mideast capitals, Palestinian medics retrieving bodies from the devastated Jenin refugee camp, and Israeli troops exchanging fire with armed Palestinians holed up in Bethlehem's besieged Church of the Nativity compound. Israeli troops also entered Abide and Deir Salah, two Palestinian villages near Bethlehem, as part of the 17-day-old military offensive in the West Bank, despite repeated U.S. calls for an end to such incursions, and doctors said two Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids. Barghouti, 41, was detained at the house of Fatah official Ziad Abu Ain, who also was picked up in Ramallah, Palestinian West Bank security chief Jibril Rajoub told The Associated Press. He warned against harming Barghouti. "Killing or humiliating him will bring catastrophes for Israel and will expand the circle of violence," he said. Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, confirmed Barghouti's detention, together Ahmed Barghouti, a cousin and aide. Barghouti, sometimes mentioned as a possible successor to Arafat, is a leading figure -- some say the leader -- in the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The militia has claimed responsibility for dozens of shooting attacks against Israelis and, in recent months, has begun staging suicide bombings as well. The Israeli army said a force of infantry, armored corps and elite soldiers surrounded a house in northern Ramallah and ordered those inside to come out. After most of the occupants left the house, the elite force went in and arrested Barghouti. He and Ahmed Barghouti were passed on to security forces for interrogation, the army said in a statement. According to Israel Radio, Barghouti initially told the soldiers in Hebrew, "I know you've come for me" -- but refused to come out of the building. The army then sent "an elite unit," and Barghouti agreed to come out without a fight, the radio said.