On Tuesday morning, an Israeli settler was lightly wounded in a shooting attack in the West Bank near the town of Hawara, to the South of Nablus. Israeli soldiers on Monday shot dead three Palestinians, including a child, one day after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called for an end to violence and a return to peace negotiations.
On Monday, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said that Arafat needs to prove his administration’s authority, and to turn the words of his Sunday speech into action.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres agreed that the Palestinian Authority would be judged by “…its record and not its recordings.”
“The key is for Chairman Arafat to show that he is that man, that he does have the authority, that he does have the capability, the desire to lead the Palestinian people," Fleischer conveyed.
In his speech, Arafat called for armed activities and suicide bombings against Israel to cease immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who last week dismissed Mr. Arafat as ‘irrelevant’, made clear his disregard for the Palestinian leader's televised address.
"I thought it was unnecessary for me to see it," he said. "When it comes to the security of Israel, we relate only to deeds, not words."
Palestinians Arrested in Gaza
Israeli soldiers arrested 10 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon, Palestinian sources said. Troops stopped three cars and detained six Palestinians at a checkpoint near a Jewish settlement in southern Gaza, said Palestinian police officer Col. Khaled Abu el-Ola.
At the northern part of the Gaza Strip, occupation troops fired on a group of Palestinian men, wounding one and arresting four, the Palestinians said.
Larsen Comments
On Monday, Terje Rod Larsen the representative of Kofi Annan the UN Secretary General, called on the Israeli Government to positively respond to the possibilities offered by President Arafat speech for the sake of the two peoples. Larsen described Arafat’s speech as a historic and very important. He added Arafat’s words form a turning point towards calming the area and returning to the negotiating table.
In a statement issued from his Gaza office, Larsen stressed that the parties should exert more efforts to benefit from the chance offered by this speech. According to WAFA, Larsen maintained that the violence would not lead to peace and stability, considering the premeditated assassinations in these crucial moments as actions that do not help the peace process.
Hamas Plans to Carry Out “New Form” of Attacks
Meanwhile, the Islamic Organization Hamas defiantly vowed to continue to carry out its operations against Israel. Israeli Defense sources told the press on Tuesday morning that Hamas strikes may take on a new form, targeting buildings and public figures. According to these sources, the Palestinian organizations are also attempting to obtain and deploy anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.
Also Tuesday morning, Israel’s hardline Tourism Minister Benny Elon said that prominent Fatah commander Marwan Barghouti is on Israel’s list of those marked for “targeted killing.” (Albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
