Arafat: No peace unless the Palestinians detainees are released
Palestine, Politics, 8/30/1999

The Palestinian leadership has confirmed its adherence to the release of all Palestinian captives and detainees being held in Israeli jails.

In a speech from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat that was delivered yesterday by Tayyeb Abdul Raheem, the secretary general of the Palestinian president's office, in a conference entitled "Freedom to support Arab and Palestinian captives and detainees in the Israel jails," Arafat said there will be no peace unless these captives are released and allowed return to their relatives and families, so as to be capable of building the Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Arafat, moreover, confirmed the insistence of the Palestinian leadership on releasing all captives, including the sons of occupied Jerusalem, without discrimination due to their political affiliation, according to what was dictated in the Wye River agreement.

Arafat also called on Israel to implement its commitments and pledges without delay. He then called on Egypt, Jordan, the Arab states, Russia and the USA to intensify their moves and pressure Israel to release the detainees.

The conference started yesterday in Gaza, and itt is considered to be the first Palestinian national conference for supporting the captives and detainees, with the participation of international and Israeli personalities.

This conference comes as Israeli - Palestinian talks face a crisis concerning the release of the Palestinian detainees in the Israeli jails.

The Palestinian Ministry of Interior released a report in which it reviewed the situations of the Palestinian and Arab captives in the Israeli jails since 1967.

Meanwhile, the report accused Israel of practicing sanctions and inhumane measures, as the number of captives and detainees amounted to 3,485 at the end of March, 1998.

Previous Stories:
  Abu Mazen confirms intention of Palestinians to implement Wye accord   (8/28/1999)
  Abu Mazen confirms intention of Palestinians to implement Wye accord   (8/28/1999)
  Palestinian - Israeli initial agreement   (8/26/1999)

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