BEIRUT: Marwan Barghouti, secretary-general of Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Yasser Arafat’s mainstream Fatah movement in the West Bank who also heads Fatah’s Tanzim in an exclusive interview published here said that all Palestinian factions wish to give US troubleshooter Anthony Zinni serious truce commitments “provided that he requests to end her aggression forthwith. We also ask from Zinni a timetable for ending the occupation” he said.

Barghouti said it was not up to Israel or America to decide Arafat’s future and talk about a ready “successor amounts to nothing more than shuffling the cards in the hope that the Palestinian masses will get caught up in a leadership struggle rather than confronting the other measures being taken by Israel to tighten its military stranglehold on the Palestinian areas.

What is left of Arafat when Israel is besieging him and stripping him of his power and leadership Barghouti said that Arafat represents everything. He represents Palestinian essence and he is the Palestinian National Authority. He is the revolution, the intifada and the epitome of steadfastness.

As to some people who think Arafat’s role is finished and that the Israelis are looking for an alternative, Barghouti said the subject of Arafat is a Palestinian decision it is neither an Arab, nor an American nor an Israeli decision. It is a decision only Palestinians can make. They are not under anyone’s tutelage and it is their right to say that he is an historic leader who gave more than is humanly possible to the Palestinian cause. He added that their information indicates that the war of assassinations will be stepped up and get more vicious.

As to whether the United States as sponsor of the peace process accept such a development? Barghouti said that Israel could not act without a green light from the United States. “I think the Israelis and the Americans have taken a strategic decision regarding this point. We weren’t surprised by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s recent remark in which he said that Ariel Sharon had told him of his intention to get rid of Arafat. We know Sharon’s true intentions. They are tangible. That’s why I think the danger is real. We said many times that ending the occupation is the only thing that can bring peace and stability to the region.” Looking for security solutions in isolation from a fundamental political settlement will lead nowhere. Zinni reportedly suggested the deployment of Arab police to counter the Palestinian request for an international protection force. “In the light of current development will you agree to the purported American suggestion.”

Barghouti said that the Palestinians requested an international force to protect the Palestinian people and to oversee the Israeli withdrawal from our occupied areas. That was the only thing that was acceptable - and Palestinians want a UN resolution to be passed on this.

He added, “How can we ask the United States to protect us when they took an extremely dangerous decision giving Sharon a green light to finish off the National Authority and topple President Arafat?”

He said, “Since President George W. Bush arrived at the White House, there has been a negative change in the American position regarding Palestinian and Arab rights. It is tangible to us this determination of the White House on ignoring Palestinian rights, stopping resistance and ending the intifada in return for nothing and at no cost to Israel.”

The US President made it a precondition that President Arafat declare his full acceptance of all Sharon’s conditions and demanded before he would even consider receiving or meeting with him. Bush received Sharon three times since assuming office and he refused to shake Arafat’s hand at the last session of the UN General Assembly.

As to Washington has not abandoned its role in the peace process, so why jump the gun?

Barghouti said “Frankly because the campaign waged by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and others in the US Administration and Congress points to a drive to finish off the National Authority.”

There are signs that America has accepted Sharon’s aim of finishing off President Arafat. There is also a financial, economic and military campaign that Israel is waging with US blessing to abort the PA, stifle the intifada and bring down President Arafat.

As to whether there has been an attempt on President Arafat’s life by Israel, Barghouti said, “On several occasions Israeli shells have landed just a few steps away from him, and his private offices have been targeted more than once. Were these coincidences, mistakes or what?”