MIDDLE EAST: As head of Mr Yasser Arafat's Fatah organisation on the West Bank, Mr Marwan Barghouti is a figure of considerable importance these days. The apparent attempt to assassinate him in a missile attack last August reflected his status as a leader of the young and militant element in Palestinian nationalism.
He told The Irish Times in an interview in Ramallah that he was opposed to suicide bombings. "I do believe we should concentrate our attacks inside the occupied territories, against the Israeli military occupation and the Israeli settlers and we should prevent targeting of innocent civilians. But sometimes, under the Israeli pressure, under the Israeli massacres, like what happened during the last two weeks when 300 Palestinians were killed, it's impossible to control the situation everywhere."
The way to solve the problem, according to Mr Barghouti, was for Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and accept a Palestinian state: "Absolutely, if they withdraw to the 1967 borders and recognise our state, we will control everything. You will not see, ever and never, any attacks against Israel. We will open a new era of historical reconciliation between our two peoples."
But what about the Israeli argument that, if you control them now, political progress would become possible? "We tried that during the last ten years. And the Israelis toyed [WITH] us and laughed at us."
Mr Barghouti has denied being a terrorist but he is a long way from being a pacifist. He is not opposed to shooting Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied territories. "I think it's legal and legitimate to target the Israeli military occupation," he says.
Soldiers and settlers, because Mr Barghouti makes no distinction: "The settlers are part of the Israeli military occupation."
I asked him if this extended to women and children: "I will not go into details. I question why these women and children are living in our land. They took this land by force, by tanks, they should leave to Tel Aviv. Why are they here?"
Turning to more diplomatic topics, I asked him for his view of the Saudi Arabian initiative, seeking Israeli withdrawal to its 1967 borders in return for Arab recognition of the Jewish state.
"Till now, there is no official initiative, we will see that in the Arab summit in Beirut next week. Till now, we don't know the details, but any initiative which will end the Israeli military occupation [BEYOND] the 1967 borders, allow the Palestinians to establish a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and guarantee the solving of the issue of the refugees with the right of return, it will be acceptable."
On the "right of return", the Israelis say that if all the Palestinians came back to the land of their forebears, the Jewish inhabitants would be swamped. "It's not true," Mr Barghouti replies. "First of all, the Israelis should withdraw to the 1967 borders. And after that, we can discuss and find solutions."
He says the intifada will continue: "Absolutely. It is the short way to achieve freedom and independence for our people. And to achieve a Palestinian independent state beside Israel." But he adds he is not seeking the destruction of Israel: "No, we are talking about the 1967 borders: two states for the two peoples. We are fighting for that." He insists this would be a lasting solution, as distinct from a base for further attacks on Israel.
I asked him if Arafat were as popular as ever. "Of course, he is an elected president for our people, he is the founder of the Palestinian revolution and he is the historical symbol for our struggle. And he was elected in fair and democratic elections. If he should be changed, the Palestinians should decide that, in fair and democratic elections."
Since Mr Barghouti has sometimes been spoken of as a possible successor to Arafat, I asked him if the President had his full support: "Yes, of course, we trust him."