"The occupation cannot continue over the Palestinian people who want freedom and independence like every other people in the world," Barghuti said giving his own defence at his last court appearance before sentencing.

"There is one solution - two states for two peoples, or one state for two peoples. Otherwise the bloodshed will continue," he told the court.

Arrested by Israel in April last year, Barghuti is standing trial on charges of murdering or abetting the killings of 26 people, as well as heading the militant Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

He is due to be sentenced in mid-November after a trial which has seen the prosecution present little detailed evidence to prove its case.

In his 45-minute speech, Barghuti made no references to the charges levelled against him, but rather gave an impassioned speech about the realities of living under Israeli occupation and called for an immediate end to it.

"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon himself, who has been pursuing war for the last 60 years, said four months ago it was time to put an end to the occupation and it will happen," he said, referring to comments made but later retracted by the Israeli leader.

"Israel's control over the Palestinians cannot continue without end ... That is not right," Sharon said in May, using for the first time the term "occupation".

"I think it's time the Israeli public realised we need to end the occupation," he said, declaring himself "proud" of his resistance to Israeli occupation.

"It is better to die than to live under occupation. I am standing here because I opposed the occupation."

He also accused Israel of torpedoing every attempt at a ceasefire between the two sides through its ongoing policy of targetted assassinations.

"How is it possible that in Israel's legal system, not one judge is against the assassination policy?" he said, directing his remarks towards the panel of judges.

"Finally some brave guys in the airforce came along and realised they were war criminals because of the assassinations ... how come you are not against it?" he asked.

He was referring to a letter published last week by 27 Israeli airforce pilots who said they were no longer prepared to take part in "illegal and immoral" missions over the Palestinian territories.

Barghuti repeated his position that he did not recognise the authority of the Israeli court system to arrest and judge him.

"I only recognise Israeli occupation," he said. "There is no justice in this court for Palestinians."

Speaking to reporters after the session, chief prosecutor Dvora Hen refused to comment on the political content of Barghuti's speech, but said she was "pleased" to have finished the case.

"Whether it's good or bad for him politically, we will have to watch and see," she said.

"This was not a normal case but I don't really think it will change history. Time will tell."

Barghuti's lawyer Jawad Boulos said that rather than using the opportunity to defend himself in a court he did not recognise, his client had used the chance to appeal to the Israeli public.

"He used this platform to lay down his political position. He is not waiting for their legal decision but he hopes that Israeli public will understand that people are fighting for their freedom," he told reporters.