The trial of Marwan Barghouti, the highest-ranking Palestinian political leader in Israeli custody, opened Sunday in a Tel Aviv court with Barghouti refusing to contest the murder charges against him and flashing V-signs at friends. Barghouti is accused of complicity in attacks by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement in which 26 Israelis were killed. Barghouti was Fatah's West Bank leader when he was snatched by occupation troops a year ago. Seen as a possible Arafat successor, he says is a political leader and not involved in violence.

The trial started as Israeli occupation forces, backed by tanks and helicopter gunships, stormed a small village in the Gaza Strip, killing two Palestinians, including a boy, and wounding 16, hospital officials said.

An American peace activist who was shot in the face by Israeli occupation troops while acting as a "human shield" in the West Bank town of Jenin remained in serious condition in an Israeli hospital Sunday, a fellow member of the International Solidarity Movement said.

No Jurisdiction

In Tel Aviv, Barghouti refused to mount a defense, saying the judges have no jurisdiction because he is a member of the Palestinian parliament. Turning to the bench, he said: "This court only represents the Israeli occupation. I do not relate to this dirty process of lies."

Three of his alleged deputies, all captured by Israel in recent months, refused to comply with an order to stand.

One, Nasser Abu Hmeid, a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade militia with links to Fatah, said he would not speak to the court and demonstratively put his hands over his ears, causing Barghouti to grin.

Another alleged militiaman, Ismail Ghadaida, ripped up a document he was handed. The prosecution played a videotape of Ghadaida's interrogation during which Barghouti's name came up frequently.

At one point, the hearing was closed to the public, to allow investigators from Israel's Shin Bet security service to testify.

Barghouti has said the Palestinians have the right to use force in resisting Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but he backs moving toward a peace deal that would set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Occupation Troops Storm Houses in Gaza

In the Gaza Strip village of Massader, troops took up sniper positions on rooftops and called from loudspeakers for the men to gather in the village square while soldiers stormed houses in an apparent search for intifadha (resistance) activists, Mayor Ayman Massader said.

Palestinians use the village, which is in central Gaza, to fire mortars at internationally illegal Jewish settlements in the area, the occupation army said.

Occupation Troops Kill Unarmed Palestinian

In one incident, Palestinians fired an anti-tank missile at troops, who returned fire, killing an armed man. Hospital officials confirmed the death of a 23-year-old Palestinian, but said he did not have weapons on him.

Later Sunday, hundreds of youngsters threw stones at armored vehicles, drawing fire that killed a 14-year-old boy and wounded 16, all under the age of 18, doctors said. They said two boys, ages 16 and 18, were in critical condition.

PHOTO CAPTION

Marwan Barghouti, escorted by an Israeli police officer, waves as he enters the Tel Aviv court, Sunday, April 6, 2003. (AP Photo/Jeremy Feldman)