Hizbullah party criticized Arafat over Karine A ship issue

The Lebanese Hizbullah party on Thursday criticized the chairman of the Palestinian Authority over "involving" the Party into the question of the Karine A weapons ship, considering that Arafat seeks behind that to please Israel and the US government.

In a circulated statement, the Hizbullah party considered that " if it is the right of Arafat to avoid involving himself and the Palestinian Authority in this issue for reasons he estimates, it is ultimately his concern to involve the Hizbullah part in it just for pleasing Sharon and the American administration."

Meantime, Lebanese ministerial sources regretted this attempt made by Arafat and described Arafat's statement to this effect as aiming at make a split between the Palestinians and the Hizbullah, the same he did when he created an inter-Palestinian split when he approved dismembering the Islamic Jihad and Hamas movements and arrested the secretary general of the People's Front For the Liberation of Palestine Ahmad Saadat.

The sources said that Arafat is mistaken because the more he gives concessions to Bush and Sharon the less will be. The sources added that Arafat's statements is a "free" service for Israel and constitutes another accusations that occupies the first topic in Sharon's talks in Washington. A matter which will constitute a new pretext for further American pressure on Lebanon.