Kindgo
Advanced Member
Member # 2
|
posted
The Associated Press Sep. 22, 2002
France demanded that Israel halt the operation, saying it was unacceptable. The European Union's foreign policy coordinator, Javier Solana, said the raid would not help end terrorism, and would instead undermine efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority and work out a truce.
The United States apparently is concerned that a new flareup in the Middle East could complicate its campaign against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called on US President George W. Bush to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli operation, the Middle East News Agency reported.
Israel TV's Channel Two cited security officials as saying Israel's hope was that life would become so unbearable for Arafat as a result of the siege that he would choose exile.
Raanan Gissin, a Sharon adviser, left open the possibility that troops would stay on even if the wanted men surrender.
"First of all, we want those people in our hands," he said. "Then we will consider what action, what further action we will have to take in order to ensure and defend our citizens." Five Israelis and a Scottish seminary student were killed in Thursday's suicide bombing on a Tel Aviv bus, claimed by the Islamic militant Hamas group.
In a statement published by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Arafat again called on militants to halt attacks inside Israel.
He did not directly address the surrender of the wanted men, though his aides have said they would not be turned over. "We are ready for peace, not for capitulation," he said in the statement, his first comment since the Israeli raid began.
Israel initially called for the surrender of 19 Palestinian officials, including members of the intelligence service and the Force 17 bodyguard unit.
On Saturday, a senior army officer taking reporters on a tour of Arafat's compound said Israel wanted 50 men to give themselves up. Army officials said the figure increased because Israel initially did not have a complete picture of who is inside.
Two senior Palestinians who have been in contact with Israeli officials said Israel never formally demanded the surrender. However, a third official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the issue was raised by Sharon in a phone call.
The UN Security Council was to meet Monday to discuss the siege.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1032275827080
--------------------
God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged | 
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
