Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat on Wednesday ordered Palestinian security forces to foil any attempt to attack Israeli civilians.
"I have given orders to Palestinian security forces to confront and prevent any terrorist operations against Israeli civilians by any Palestinian party, parallel to confronting any aggression on Palestinian civilians from the Israeli army and Jewish settlers which we all condemn," Arafat said in a statement.
"As the president of the Palestinian Authority, I reiterate here my ... readiness to participate with the U.S. administration and the international community in their war against terrorism," Arafat added.
Arafat's orders came after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed at least 16 people at a night club in Rishon Letzion, south of Tel Aviv, on Tuesday night.
Arafat urged the United States to provide support for the Palestinian security forces to enable them to carry out their duties and to ensure that Israel does not target them.
Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said the recent Israeli offensive into Palestinian territories was responsible for the renewed Palestinian attacks.
"They are dragging the whole region into more violence," she said. "It should have become clear now that there will be no peace or security for the Israelis without peace and security for the Palestinians and without full respect for the human rights of the Palestinians," she said.
Meanwhile, Rishon Letzion bombing threatened to bury the deal to end a 37-day Israeli siege of Palestinians trapped in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. "I am afraid that the bombing could hurt the agreement," a source close to the negotiations told Reuters. "It is unlikely that anything is going to be happening for a long while."
Negotiators said on Tuesday they had reached a deal to end the siege under which 13 wanted Palestinian activists inside the church would be exiled in Italy and 29 others would be sent to Gaza.
Italy has said it had not been consulted and had not agreed to accept the Palestinians. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini said on Wednesday the United States should discuss with the European Union who should take in the Palestinians.
"If we took in the 13 Palestinians, we would be exposing our country to a series of grave risks," he told the daily La Stampa. "My opinion? They'll never arrive in Italy."
(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
