During a celebration held in Ramallah for declaring the implementation of the Palestinian Uniformed Labor Law, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat stated that Israel is not interested in peace and is exerting all efforts and deception to avoid it.
He added that the Israeli government led by Sharon, requested a four calm days period, then they demanded one week followed by a demand for two weeks of calmness, but now it has been over three weeks since the 16th of last December, and the Israeli occupying authorities are escalating their attacks and aggression against the Palestinian people.
According to WAFA, Arafat conveyed that when Gen. Zinni came back to the region to implement the Tenet Plan and the Michel Report Recommendations, the Israelis avoided him and his task, and instead they proceeded with their “Oranim” plan.
Addressing the audience he asserted “we are facing a Government that thinks using terms of military and power and according to all indications this government will go on killing, assassinating, and demolishing every piece of hope for peace sacrificing our and their children for their arrogant military plans.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Barakeh, an Arab member of the Israeli Parliament said Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon does not want peace “at all”.
Barakeh, member of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality told Sout Al-Arab (Arab Voice) radio that Sharon wants to strengthen the tension with the Palestinian side, because “calmness” emerging from the Palestinians would eventually force Sharon to negotiate with the Palestinians.
Barakeh called upon Arab countries to urge the United States to exert pressure on Israel to honor its commitments towards the Middle East Peace Process.
Rajoub: Israel Responsible for Gaza Attack
Israel is responsible for Wednesday’s border raid in which four Israeli soldiers were killed, according to Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank Preventive Security Service Chief.
According to him, the Palestinian Authority had warned Israel for over a month now that it could expect such an attack if Israel’s aggressive policies were to continue.
Security Service Chief Rajoub also said Thursday that the cease-fire will not hold if negotiations between the two sides do not progress. Palestinians are interested in maintaining the cease-fire, Rajoub added. (Albawaba.com)
