Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has accused Israel of mass massacring of the Palestinian people in aggressions that he described as “religious .”
Blaming Likud leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to Al Aqsa Mosque for triggering the Palestinian anger, Arafat said the current events, which claimed the lives of “193” Palestinians, while 7000 others were injured over three weeks of bloodshed, have marked a new turn in the conflict: the religious dimension.
The president said that Sharon’s visit to the compound on September 28, was plotted with the government of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, prompting a "spontaneous and legitimate popular uprising" by the Palestinians.
Arafat added that “The Israeli government did not forgive the Palestinian worshippers for their reaction against Sharon and committed a massacre the next day in the Haram Sharif.”
He warned that the Israeli actions in Jerusalem could lead to "wars of religion with unforeseen consequences."
Arafat criticized “the Israelis, supported by some international circles,” for depicting the clashes in the Palestinian territories as “a war between two armies,” and their calls for disengagement.
“But these attempts have failed, and the proof is UN Security Council 1322 which condemned the Israeli aggression and called for setting up an international commission to investigate the events.”
The "Palestinian uprising ... is only a stage in the long march of the Palestinian people" which must lead to an "Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories and the return of refugees," he added.
He recalled that peace was a "strategic choice" for the Palestinians who would continue to work "for liberation of their land," setting up a state with Al Quds as its capital and ensuring the return of refugees.
Arafat also called on the Arabs to support the Palestinians, set aside their differences, and end the UN economic sanctions on Iraq, which have been in place since Iraq invaded Kuwait some ten years ago – Albawba.com
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