11-12-2003, 02:44 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Banned
Location: The Hell I Created.
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Arafat: Israel Has Right to Live in Peace
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...d=540&ncid=716
Quote:
Arafat: Israel Has Right to Live in Peace
16 minutes ago
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) called on Wednesday for an end to three years of violence, saying that Israel has a right to live in peace as his legislature prepared to approve the new Palestinian Cabinet.
The legislature was gathered for a vote of confidence on Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia's new Cabinet. The vote was expected to pass, despite complaints about the government's makeup and Arafat's continued grip on power.
"The Israeli government says and spreads lies that we don't want peace," he said. "I want to talk here to the Israeli people to say in public and in Arabic that this is not true."
Arafat began his speech with a scathing attack on Israel. He harshly criticized Israel's targeted killings of Palestinian militant leaders, Jewish settlements and an Israeli security barrier being built in the West Bank.
"The goal of the Israeli government from behind this war ... is not hidden from the world," Arafat said. "It is a dangerous goal of preventing our people from their land, their rights and an independent state."
He said the dozens of Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians over the past three years were in response to Israeli military aggression against Palestinians.
Nonetheless, the Palestinian leader said the violence must end.
"Instead of total destruction of our people and land, the time has come between us and you Israelis, and listen to me Israelis, to get out of this cycle of destructive war," Arafat said.
He said the fighting "will not give you security nor give us security nor will it give you just and secure peace."
If the vote passes, the Cabinet was to be sworn in immediately afterward, ending a two-month Palestinian political stalemate that has stymied talks on stopping three years of conflict and implementing the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.
Despite concerns about Arafat's prominent role, especially in security issues, Israel and the United States have indicated they would give the new team a chance to prove itself.
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while i'm sure it's a sign of the apocalypse, i hope arafat saying this does help the situation out there. but i think it could be too good to be legit...
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