Arafat: Israeli escalation proceeds according to plan
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/12/2002

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat asserted that the current Israeli escalation proceeds according to a predetermined plan that was renamed from "field of thorns" under former Prime Minister Ehud Barak to "Uranim" under Ariel Sharon.

In an interview today with Abu-Dhabi satellite channel, Arafat said that the current practice by Israeli occupation forces of tattooing numbers on the bodies of detainees in Tulkarm camp is reminiscent of earlier similar practices by the Nazis in their detention camps during World War II.

"Aren't these the kind of things, they say, the Nazis used to do with Jews? What do they say about these things going on at present? Is not this neo-Nazi racism? Can this be internationally acceptable?" Arafat wondered.

He pointed out that the Palestinian side has been calling for the presence an international force similar to those in Lebanon and the Golan to help protect the unarmed Palestinian people. Arafat reiterated his commitment to the peace process launched in Madrid on the basis of the land-for-peace principle.

He confirmed that the Palestinian agreed to the Saudi crown prince's initiative and are ready to immediately start implementing the Tenet understandings and Mitchell report and enter into final status negotiations, he added.

Arafat also voiced support for President Hosni Mubarak`s efforts to contain the deteriorating situation and shore up peace talks, holding Israel responsible for the current deterioration.

Previous Stories:
  Sharon releases Arafat, opening the door for his participation at Beirut's summit   (3/11/2002)
  Mofaz: we killed 200 Palestinians, arrested 1200 Palestinians   (3/11/2002)
  Sharon commits a series of brutal massacres, 50 Palestinians killed, hundreds wounded   (3/9/2002)

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