Wednesday, December 19, 2001 Home > World > Article
- WORLD
Killings go on despite Arafat plea (Religion is not a place for you to recruit ppl for your war)
Closed by order of the Palestinian Authority ... a youth center run by Islamic Jihad. Photo by AFP
By Ross Dunn, Herald Correspondent in Jerusalem and agencies
The Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, faced mounting pressure yesterday to prevent militant groups attacking Israelis after they challenged his call for an end to suicide bombings and armed assaults.
Israeli troops shot dead three Palestinians on Monday and Palestinian gunmen later wounded four Jewish settlers in ambushes in the West Bank after the Islamic groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they would continue attacks.
Mr Arafat accused the Israelis of escalating their military operations in the West Bank and Gaza, despite his efforts to end the violence.
"I am completely committed to what I have declared, but I am sorry to say that, still, the Israelis are escalating their military activities," Mr Arafat said.
His remarks follow a televised appeal to Palestinians on Sunday to suspend all "terrorist activity".
The White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said President George Bush would judge Mr Arafat on whether his "words turn into concrete acts".
Washington also criticised Israel for briefly detaining Sari Nusseibeh, the Palestine Liberation Organisation's top official for Jerusalem, who is also a leading Palestinian dove. It said it had lodged a complaint about Monday's incident. Mr Nusseibeh was trying to organise a reception for foreign dignitaries.
An Israeli cabinet minister said the gathering would have "contributed to the loss of our sovereignty in Jerusalem".
Members of the Hamas group are vowing to continue attacks.
The radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine , which assassinated Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi in October, also rejected Mr Arafat's appeal.
The Israeli army says it shot and killed a senior Hamas activist in Hebron as he tried to escape while they were arresting him. It also killed a member of the Palestinian security force in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Palestinian medical officials say Israeli soldiers shot and killed a boy in the Gaza strip while he was playing in the Khan Yunis refugee camp.
Israel has stopped its air strikes, but is continuing commando raids into Palestinian areas.
Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, made it clear his forces were acting as they saw fit to bolster security, after declaring last week that he had cut off contacts with Mr Arafat.
"We are going to take all the necessary steps and all the necessary measures to defend our citizens and the very existence of the state of Israel," Mr Sharon said. He was no longer interested in speeches by Mr Arafat. "I believe in deeds and acts and not in declarations."
Search the Fairfax archives for related stories (*Fee for full article)
[go to top]
In this section
Al-Qaeda forces on the run, but still a threat
Omar in the high country where opium flowers grow
Australia coy on committing troops
Shellshocked eyes peer out from convoy of the defeated
Anthrax sent to senators was probably made in US, says White House
Killings go on despite Arafat plea
Police 'playing favourites' as Tommy is taken to sick father
Daughter arrives, with triplets due in three months
Sorry, but we don't want your type in this job
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Guide | Archive | Feedback | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2001. All rights reserved.