Palestinian President Yasser Arafat denounced Israel's continuing assassinations of Palestinian activists Thursday as "criminal" and a violation of international accords.
Arafat suggested he would raise the matter with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who arrived in Jerusalem for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and was expected later in Gaza City.
"No doubt we cannot accept this criminal operation," Arafat said after talks with European Union envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos. "It's a violation of all agreements which we reached with the European Union, United States and Russia."
Sharon "continues these operations against our people" even though they should be stopped, he said.
Asked if the assassinations would affect Blair's visit, he replied: "The situation is very critical, and no doubt I will inform Mr. Blair about all the problems we face."
Israeli helicopter gunships killed two members of the armed wing of the militant group Hamas close to the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem on Thursday in an attack the government claimed had prevented a major suicide bombing – AFP
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
