Fatah movement calls for an urgent Arab summit
Palestine, Politics, 2/3/1998

A leading Palestinian faction called for an Arab summit to discuss future strategy for the Arab world in light of the latest developments in the region.

Fatah, the mainstream PLO faction, issued a statement in Gaza in which it strongly condemned all Israeli moves and attempts to renegotiate the interim peace agreements that were signed between the PLO and Israel in Oslo in 1994.

Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said the Palestinian choice of peace is "strategic, provided it leads to just peace" but it warned that if just peace is not attained in the region "all options are open for the Palestinian people."

In a direct appeal to the US Administration, Fatah called on President Bill Clinton and his top aides to work earnestly to guarantee that the interim agreements are implemented by Israel "since the US is the guarantor of the peace process in the Middle East." It said the US should practice a more effective role to move the peace process out of its present stalemate "instead of adopting a double-standard policy with regard to Iraq."

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, called on Arab countries to side with Iraq against the continued international sanctions that were imposed on the country seven years ago. A statement issued by the movement in Gaza said the Arab world should adopt a daring stand and take a courageous step to break the siege imposed on the Iraqi people.

"The present sufferings of our brethren, the Iraqi people, are a shameful mark in the history of mankind," said the statement, which strongly condemned US policy in the region and said it is fully biased in favor of Israel and against all Arabs.

Previous Stories:
  PLO sets rules of comprehensive peace   (2/2/1998)
  Hamas chief calls for halting cooperation with Israel   (1/29/1998)
  Arafat faces crisis as minister resigns   (1/27/1998)

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