Two Palestinians jailed for a 1994 terrorist attack on North Finchley this week vowed to continue their fight for freedom after losing their appeal.

There were cries of 'shame' from the public gallery as the Appeal Court ruled against Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh.

The pair, British residents of Palestinian origin, were jailed for 20 years in 1996 for their part in car bomb attacks on the Israeli embassy and Balfour House. Twenty people were injured in the explosions. Alami, 33, looked pale and shaken in the dock wearing a white T-shirt with the word 'innocent' scrawled across it in red lettering. Botmeh, 31, did not appear in court.

The pair argued they were not given a fair trial. But Lord Justice Rose, sitting with Mr Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Goldring, said there was no breach of article six of the Human Rights Convention guaranteeing a fair trial.

Judges also dismissed an appeal by their lawyers that their 20-year sentences were excessive and refused them leave to appeal to the House of Lords.

But Alami and Botmeh vowed to continue their campaign for freedom in statements to the press. Botmeh said: "Myself and Samar had an unfair trial that was followed, after a long wait, by an unfair appeal. This was a political trial from day one and we are totally innocent. The real perpetrators still remain free. We were only convenient scapegoats."

Alami said in a statement: "I'll never regret being a part of the Palestinian people's struggle for justice and basic rights, for life with a minimum of dignity, humanity and freedom."

Outside court Samia Botmeh, Jawad's sister, said: "This wasn't entirely unexpected, but we hoped for something positive.

"I'm dreading telling my parents in the West Bank the message for those back home is not to expect much from the British Government."

The pair won support from renegade MI5 officer David Shayler. His revelations that intelligence agencies had known of a threat to the embassy formed part of their appeal. Shayler described the decision as "anarchy on the part of judges", adding: "There is a very clear European directive on this and the judges have chosen not to follow it. I am absolutely confident that this conviction will be quashed in the European courts."

November 7, 2001 20:34

MATTHEW NIXSON