GAZA, June 6 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Authority condemned Sunday an Israeli court's sentence of five life sentences plus 40 years
Handed to Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
The PA said in a statement sent to reporters that Barghouti's sentence "is rejected, condemned and illegal."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters that courts in Israel have no authority to sentence either Barghouti or any Palestinian, adding "Barghouti is a Palestinian legislature member and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
"This is an illegal court and it passed an illegal sentence and we don't accept it or even recognize it," said Erekat.
Erekat urged the whole world to intervene to help get Barghouti out of prison.
A court in Tel-Aviv found Barghouti guilty after convicting him last month of direct responsibility of four suicide-bombings carried out by his movements' armed-wing, Al-Aqsa brigades.
Barghouti, 45, who is also a Palestinian Legislative Council Member, has been detained since March 2002 during. He has been on trial since September 2002, since he was indicted for "affiliation in a terrorist organization and involvement in terrorist activities."
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned the sentence.
"We Palestinians don't recognize this sentence or even the court that made that sentence against Marwan Barghouti, the member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the parliament of the Palestinian Authority," Qureia told reporters in Ramallah.
"This court is scrawny and it doesn't have the right to try a freedom fighter like Marwan Barghouti," Qureia said. "The court's sentence is unfair and unjust and we don't recognize it."
Qureia said that the PA "would do its best to reveal the falseness of this Israeli court that totally ignored the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people."
Tens of Palestinians as well as Palestinian Legislative Council members held a protest Sunday.
The PLC members and tens of other protestors gathered in front of the International Red Cross Committee in Gaza.
Palestinian minister of Prisoners' affairs Hisham Abdel-Razeq, who attended the protest, told reporters that "the Israeli government and army should be put on trail for its continuous crimes against Palestinians and not Barghouti who is a struggler for freedom."
Abdel-Razeq said that he considered the Israeli court "illegitimate and invalid."
Fatah earlier issued a communiqué also saying Barghouti's trial was a "mockery."
Barghouti was sentenced for his responsibility in the killing of five Israelis.
Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath described the sentence as "hostile and oppressive."
Shaath told reporters "the struggler Marwan Barghouti refuses to appeal this sentence because it is criminal and absurd ruling," adding "Israel is breaching the 4th Geneva Convention since the sentence was issued by a civil court."
