Arafat honors Sheikh Ahmed Yassin

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat honored the spiritual mentor and founder of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Arafat expressed his appreciation for Yassin's role in the Palestinian national resistance while offering the Sheikh a holy Quran during a ceremony held to honor the Palestinian religious leaders.

Hamas was founded by Sheikh Yassin in 1987. It rejects the agreements that established the Palestinian self-rule territories. The military faction of Hamas has carried out most of the explosions that have rocked Israel since the start of Palestinian self rule in 1994.

Lately, Yassin has been critical of the lack of progress achieved by the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and has issued threats that he may call for the the return of armed struggle against Israel, if no progress is seen.