Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat charged Sunday Israel with using accusations of Palestinian links to al-Qaeda and the US threats of war on Iraq as cover for stepping up its military campaign against the Palestinians.
In an interview with Reuters, Arafat said that Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon had no intention of achieving peace.
The Palestinian leader declared a general election set for January 20 would have to be delayed, unless Israeli forces withdraw from all Palestinian cities and towns.
Arafat conveyed he wanted to make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas mass, but a spokesman for Sharon said Arafat should not attend the midnight mass this year because he is not "a man of peace." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
