Israeli trial of Palestinian leader delayed

Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, center, in a court in Tel Aviv on Thursday. His trial was recessed until October after he refused to recognize the court or accept legal representation.

TEL AVIV, Israel (CNN) -- An Israeli court recessed the trial of Palestinian firebrand politician Marwan Barghouti on Thursday after he refused to recognize the court or be represented by an attorney.

Barghouti, 43, the West Bank chief of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah Movement, is accused of playing a central part in ordering deadly attacks against Israelis over the past two years.

He faces 37 charges including murder, attempted murder and involvement in a terrorist organization.

The trial will be recessed until the beginning of October so Barghouti can reconsider his decision to rebuke legal counsel.

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Barghouti entered court Thursday wearing handcuffs, although he managed to wave and blow kisses toward his family and supporters in the crowded courtroom.

Barghouti maintains his innocence. He has said he considers himself a politician and a leader of the ongoing Al Aqsa Intifada, but he denies any involvement in the killing of Israelis.

Israeli attitudes toward Barghouti, however, took a significant turn in April when the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- the militant offshoot of the Fatah movement that has carried out numerous terror attacks -- said in a statement that Barghouti was its leader.

Barghouti: 'Two states for two peoples'

Tensions were high as several scuffles and shouting matches between supporters of Barghouti and Israeli terror victims broke out in the hallway adjacent to the courtroom.

Barghouti has been in Israeli custody since he was arrested on April 15. Before he appeared in court to face charges last month, Barghouti said in Arabic, Hebrew and English that he was a man of peace and that "the intifada will win."

"All the world knows that Marwan Barghouti is fighting for peace and I believe in the solution of two states for two peoples," he said as he raised his cuffed hands above his head. "The conflict is being fought for peace and only peace will bring security for Israelis ... you are paying a heavy price for your government's actions."

Barghouti has been considered one of the most prominent grass-roots Palestinian politicians and has been mentioned as a possible successor to Arafat.

At the same time, he has been an outspoken supporter of the recent Palestinian uprising, which began in September 2000. He supports a two-state solution, and he has called for the end of the occupation of land captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.

Barghouti has been a fiery leader in weekly Friday mass protests against the Israeli occupation, which gained him popularity on the Palestinian streets. His line has always been that Israelis can only live in peace once the Palestinians live in peace.

In the past, Barghouti, who is fluent in Hebrew because of his time in Israeli prisons, has appeared on Israeli television.

CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report