Arafat government resign, elections set; Ben Eliezer: Military measures fail to impose solution on Palestinians
Palestine, Military, 9/12/2002

While the Israeli defense minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer admitted that all Israeli oppressive acts and measures to impose a solution on the Palestinians failed, the European Union called on Israel to lift sanctions and restrictions imposed on the Palestinians, stressing that only a political solution can be an outlet for the sufferings of the Palestinians and the deteriorated conditions in the Palestinian territories.

Meantime, members of the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday submitted their resignation to the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat who accepted the resignation and called on the Palestinians to take part in the general legislative elections which will take place on January 20, 2003.

The secretary of the Palestinian legislative council Rouhi Fattouh said that the current "legislative authority" is there just to run the affairs, while the secretary of the Palestinian Authority presidency al-Tayeb Abdul Raheem said that Arafat will form a new authority within 14 days, according to the constitution.

Meanwhile, the Israeli defense minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer has admitted the failure of the military measures in imposing an Israeli solution on the Palestinians. He said that in addition to the military action, Israel should pursue the political means in order to contain the conflict with the Palestinians.

As a proof to the fact that the Israeli government has no political perspective for a solution with the Palestinians, Ben Eliezer said that it is ripe time to draw what he called a political perspective and launch a new political initiative so as to get out of the current Israeli crisis, as time is running not in the interest of Israel, he said.

Tuesday and Wednesday witnessed further Israeli attacks by the Israeli forces which stormed into areas in the West Bank and Gaza, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia towns in Gaza and arrested more than 30 Palestinians within the context of inspection and breaking in operations carried out by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian towns, cities and camps, especially in Toulkarem, Jenin, Ramullah and Nablus.

The Palestinian resistance retaliated by attacking Ghoushe Katieve settlements in Gaza and this resulted in wounding one Israeli settler and damaging one tank in Beit Hanoun, where the Palestinian Intifada youths detonated a large explosive under an Israeli tank that resulted in damaging it.

Israeli military sources admitted the wounding of two Israeli soldiers in Beit Hanoun and other two soldiers in Nablus which had witnessed violent clashes between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli radio said that strong explosion took place in Genetal settlement in Gaza and confirmed that a bomb went off under the car of an Israeli army officer in Hareesh village. The radio did report casualties, stressing that the Israeli forces started immediately vast mopping up operations in the surrounding of the two areas where the two incidents took place.

On the other hand, Israeli settlers on Wednesday broke into a Palestinian house near Brakha settlement in Nablus and announced their determination to build a new settlement in the area.

Previous Stories:
  Mahmoud Abbas denies forthcoming meeting with Sharon because of Oslo statements   (9/11/2002)
  Continued Israeli attacks against the Palestinians   (9/11/2002)
  Two Palestinians shot by Israelis, houses demolished   (9/10/2002)
  Palestinians legislative council reelects Qrei   (9/10/2002)

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