King Mohammed receives President Arafat
Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 3/17/2001

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received Friday President Yasser Arafat of Palestine, who paid a short visit to Morocco, part of a tour in several Arab countries prior to the Arab summit slated for this March 27-28 in Amman.

Arafat was accompanied by local administration minister, Saeb Erekat, Advisor to the Palestinian president, Nabil Abu Roudayna, head of preventive security in Gaza, Mohamed Dahlan, and Palestinian ambassador to Morocco Abu Marwane.

The audience was attended by secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri, and head of the King's office Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi.

Arafat had said upon arrival in Rabat that he came to Morocco to consult with King Mohammed VI-who is chairman of the Al-Quds Committee-- and inform him on latest developments in Al-Aqsa Intifadah (popular uprising) so that "we can adopt a common vision at the upcoming Arab summit" and at the same time lead an international diplomatic action to face Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian president said he is proud of the firm support by the Moroccan king and people to the struggle of the Palestinian people for the defense of the holy Islamic and Christian sites.

Arafat also insisted on the mounting Israeli military escalation and denounced the use of banned weapons, confirmed by international human rights organizations and other NGOs, in addition to the blockade enforced against all Palestinian cities and villages, the closure of the airport and safe passages and the destruction of trees, wells and greenhouses.

Israelis have gone as far as profaning mosques, churches and even a synagogue in Naplus and their zealot settlers, helped by the Israeli army, do not hesitate to perpetrate these acts, he deplored. Despite all this, "we remain attached to the agreements we have signed and to the peace option, the peace of the brave as a strategic choice for the Palestinian people and even for the Israeli people whose majority, as shown by polls, support peace, " he went on.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian president in Rabat to consult with King Mohammed prior to Arab summit   (3/16/2001)
  Morocco - Palestine ties, Strategic, Shaat   (2/15/2001)
  Moroccan enterprises called to participate in fund raising operations to assist Palestinians   (1/17/2001)

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