Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat urged Wednesday for an end to three years of violence, saying that Israel has a right to live in peace as his legislature approved the new Palestinian Cabinet.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) was meeting Wednesday in Ramallah for a vote of confidence on Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei's proposed new Cabinet. In the afternoon, the Council approved the government Wednesday, ushering in 26 new ministers.
The vote was 48 in favor and 13 against, with five abstentions, officials said.
"The Israeli government says and spreads lies that we don't want peace," Arafat said. "I want to talk here to the Israeli people to say in public and in Arabic that this is not true."
Arafat began his speech with an attack on Israel. He firmly criticized Israel's assassinations of Palestinian leaders, Jewish settlements and an Israeli "security barrier" being built in the West Bank.
"The goal of the Israeli government from behind this war ... is not hidden from the world," Arafat said. "It is a dangerous goal of preventing our people from their land, their rights and an independent state."
Arafat said the dozens of Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians over the past three years were in response to Israeli military aggression against Palestinians.
Nonetheless, the Palestinian president said the violence must end. "Instead of total destruction of our people and land, the time has come between us and you Israelis, and listen to me Israelis, to get out of this cycle of destructive war," Arafat said.
He added the fighting "will not give you security nor give us security nor will it give you just and secure peace."
If the vote passes, the Cabinet was to be sworn in immediately afterward. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
