Popular Palestinian Calls for Change

One of the most popular leaders of the Palestinian uprising issued a prison-cell appeal Tuesday for high-level change in the Palestinian Authority -- the first time Marwan Barghouti has openly challenged the authority’s president, Yasser Arafat.

The call came as Arafat’s battered security services made their first reported arrests of Palestinian militants in months.

Barghouti has maintained grass-roots appeal and avoided the stain of corruption that has tainted many of Arafat’s supporters. His call for new leadership seemed to reflect Arafat’s falling popularity among his people, as prominent Palestinians begin to speak out against the Palestinian leader’s handling of the two-year conflict with Israel.

Barghouti did not name Arafat in his written response to questions presented to him in prison by his lawyer, Khader Shkirat.

“It is time for many of the Palestinian leaders and officials to leave their positions after failing in their roles and responsibilities in this decisive battle,” Barghouti said, referring to the Palestinian uprising. “This should be done in a democratic and legal way as soon as possible.”

Though some leaders have criticized the armed attacks on Israelis as harmful to the Palestinian cause, Barghouti backed violent elements of the uprising. However, until the fighting broke out in September 2000, he was a staunch advocate of peace talks with Israel.

Barghouti was arrested in April and is on trial for attacks that killed 26 Israelis.

Arafat also has been under pressure to crack down on militants. On Tuesday, the militant Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said seven of its members were arrested by Palestinian intelligence services in the Gaza Strip.

Among them was Isam abu Daka, a top leader in Khan Yunis who also is wanted by Israel. Israeli forces demolished his house March 6 and arrested seven of his brothers.