Marwan Barghuti, Palestinian mainstream Fatah Movement's leader, was sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years for murder by an Israeli court in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

The Israeli court convicted Barghouti last month for the direct responsibility for four suicide bombings carried out by Fatah's armed wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Barghouti, who is also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), has been detained inside Israeli jails since March 2002 after an Israeli large-scale military incursion into the West Bank.

He has been put to trials since September 2002 and was indicted for "affiliation in a terrorist organization and involvement in terrorist activities."

But Barghouti refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the trial, saying "it represents the Israeli illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories."

PLC speaker Rawhi Fatooh on Sunday called on the International Parliament's Union to suspend the membership of the Israeli Knesset for giving the Israeli court legitimacy to put on trial a Palestinian representative.

He said at a press conference held in Gaza City that he rejects any ruling by the Israeli military court against Barghouti.

Fatooh described Barghouti as a prominent Fatah representative and a PLC member who enjoys parliamentary immunity.

He said the PLC had designated an attorney to defend Barghouti, adding that the PLC will hold a session to tackle Barghuti's case on Wednesday.

Fadwa Barghouti, Barghuti's wife, said Sunday that Israel deprived her of the right to attend the court's session in Tel Aviv.

She said the sentence against her husband coincided with Barghuti's 45th birthday.

Fadwa told reporters that a symbolic birthday party for her husband would be held in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, joined by foreign peace activists, diplomats and Palestinians.

She said there would be peaceful activities in different parts of the Palestinian territories that will continue until 11 pm before midnight.

"Celebrating Marwan's birthday is a sign for life and is to send a message to the world that detaining him in Israeli prisons would never last for too long," said Fadwa.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2004)