The bugs were authorized in late December 1993, and by Jan. 11, 1994, investigators recovered what FBI Agent Kerry Myers described as the first pertinent fax communication.

Jurors in Al-Arian's trial on Wednesday were read that fax, as well as three others, and portions of a transcript of a translated telephone conversation in which Al-Arian and another defendant talked about the Islamic Jihad's business with Iran. Al-Arian also seemed upset that he was being disregarded.

The first fax, from an unidentified person, suggests Al- Arian was overwhelming the Islamic Jihad with his suggestions. The writer says he has discussed Al-Arian's ideas with two people Myers identified as members of the Islamic Jihad's shura council, or board of directors.

``As we thank you for your effort, we see that the volume of suggestions, the essential and the nonessential amendments suggested in the paper, is greater than we can deal with in a fast way,'' it says.

The writer assures Al-Arian that even though the Islamic Jihad is experiencing ``difficult political circumstances and the lack of adequate financial capabilities,'' it is doing better than it had in the past.

Al-Arian is on trial, along with Sameeh Hammoudeh, Hatim Naji Fariz and Ghassan Zayed Ballut, on charges they helped finance and organize the Islamic Jihad, a terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for numerous suicide bombings in Israel and the occupied territories.

Involvement in the Islamic Jihad was not illegal in the United States until January 1995, but prosecutors are presenting evidence of earlier activity, arguing it represents an ongoing criminal conspiracy.

Al-Arian defense attorney William Moffitt suggested in his opening statement that Al- Arian was part of the Islamic Jihad but left in 1994 after other members rejected his plan to ``move the Islamic movement away from the politics of the Middle East to a direction that is more religious and nonviolent.'' That proposal appears to be outlined in a fax read Wednesday and sent Jan. 17, 1994, from Al-Arian's home to Damascus.

``There is a need to found a front on the inside that has a social and religious orientation, not a political one in the traditional sense (that is, it will not compete in political elections or parties),'' the fax says.

The word ``inside'' refers to the occupied territories, Myers testified.

Written in what Myers described as a code, the letter suggests that they ``execute the matter smartly and with sophistication, as follows: Hamed [Islamic Jihad General Secretary Fathi Shikaki] is to announce, in the name of the family [the Islamic Jihad] his rejection of the cousins' [the Israelis'] attempts to open fronts whose mission is to pressure the old man [Yasser Arafat] and hasten a civil war.''

The fax also says, ``It should be emphasized that this group does not belong to the family [the Islamic Jihad] and will not participate in the political conflict in the country. Rather, emphasize it involvement in social, cultural and religious action as well as the principled positions regarding the sacred cause.''

Jurors also heard excerpts of a conversation between Al-Arian and Muhammed Tasir Hassan Al-Khatib on Jan. 16, 1994. Al-Arian's brother-in-law, Al- Khatib is named as a defendant in the indictment but has not been extradited from overseas. Prosecutors say he was treasurer of the Islamic Jihad and a member of the shura council.

In the conversation, the two discussed a committee Myers said was formed at the insistence of Iran, the prime financial backer of the Islamic Jihad. It included an Iranian government official, Shikaki and Abd Al Aziz Awda, the Islamic Jihad's spiritual leader and also a defendant who has not been extradited.

``It's clear that they're not happy with the Iranian on that committee,'' Myers said. In one exchange, Al-Arian asks how much Awda and Shikaki will get. ``Two every month,'' Al-Khatib responds.

Myers testified this meant Iran was giving $200,000 a month to the Islamic Jihad.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.