The wheels of justice churn slowly but steadily. Nasser Awis, top assistant to Fatah-Tanzim head Marwan Barghouti, was sentenced today to 14 life sentences plus another 50 years. The Tel Aviv District Court meted out the punishment after Awis was convicted of 14 murders in several terrorist attacks that he initiated. He was responsible for an attack in central Jerusalem in Dec. 2001 (11 killed), the Bat Mitzvah celebration in Hadera in Jan. 2002 (six dead), and the Seafood Market attack in Tel Aviv in March 2002 (three dead).
Barghouti himself has admitted to directing terrorist attacks that resulted in the killing and injuring of scores of Israeli civilians. Shortly before his arrest 13 months ago, he called openly for attacks on all IDF checkpoints in Yesha, and said that there is room only for one state between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. His trial resumes today in the above court. Both Barghouti and Awis rejected Israel's authority to try them - despite the PA's Oslo obligation to recognize Israel.