Palestinian 'forced to help Shin Bet' gets death sentence

A Palestinian who worked for Israel's leading human rights group was sentenced to death yesterday on charges of collaborating with the Shin Bet 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. Ghanem has alleged 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 accused Shin Bet yesterday of endangering the lives of the group's researchers by "cynically" allowing Ghanem to use his work for the organisation as cover. The future for Ghanem is bleak. Eighteen Palestinians have been sentenced to death by the Palestinian courts for collaboration. Although only two have gone before firing squads, others have been dragged from their cells by mobs and killed.

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

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

In his confession, Ghanem said he knew nothing of the assassination plan. He claimed he was sucked into collaborating when he worked for what he believed to be an Israeli news agency. When he tried to leave, he said, the threat was made to display photographs of him talking to Israeli officers – pictures that could have cost him his life in Gaza.

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