Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Thursday called on the Israelis to seize the "ripe opportunity" to realize peace with the Palestinian people according to the signed peace agreements and the relevant international resolutions.
In his speech, on the occasion of opening the Palestine Legislative Council's 9th session in Ramallah, Arafat stressed that the Israeli withdrawal that serves peace and security has to be through the resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
Arafat added the Palestinian leadership extends the hand of peace to the Israelis, to maintain the just and comprehensive peace based on establishing an independent state, to live in security and peace, for the sake of Palestinian and Israeli children.
Arafat called on the Quartet Committee and "all lovers of democracy" to help the Palestinian people consecrate and renew their democratic life, away from occupation, check-points and the wall of annexation, expansion and racial separation to get rid of the Israeli occupation.
In his televised speech, Arafat called on the Quartet committee to put down binding mechanisms on both parties in order to carry out the implementation simultaneously and in a balanced manner under international auspices and supervision.
"In this regard, I call for an immediate agreement for a total withdrawal to the situation prior to the 28th of September 2000, and for a binding and mutual cease fire," the Palestinian leader said.
Arafat said that Israeli killing of Palestinians, oppression, destruction and the building of settlements will not help in achieving peace and security.
"The time has come for the international community to put an end to the last of the abhorred settler colonial occupation, that threatens the future of the Palestinian people and does not provide security and peace to the whole region," he said.
Meanwhile, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said Thursday that many Palestinians have offered to cary out suicide attacks against Israel.
"Hundreds have come to see me and there are many more in the West Bank," Zakaria Zubeidi told AFP during the funerals for five fighters, who were killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday. "We have plans throughout the West Bank to increase our attacks," he added.
Some 25,000 people turned out for the funerals in the West Bank city of Jenin.
According to Zubeidi, his movement would launch swift revenge attacks. "Of course our reaction will not be in the form of a statement to the media. It will be carried out on the ground and will be very swift."
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
