WEST BANK/GAZA: FATAH MOVEMENT STAGE RALLY MARKING 38TH ANNIVERSARY.

Record ID: 215384

  • Title: WEST BANK/GAZA: FATAH MOVEMENT STAGE RALLY MARKING 38TH ANNIVERSARY.
  • Date: 31st December 2002
  • Summary: (W5) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 31, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT BEING LED OUT OF RAMALLAH COMPOUND FOR A DEMONSTRATION MARKING 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION OF FATAH/ ARAFAT WAVING AND SMILING, HOLDING UP PEACE SIGN; ARAFAT AND BODYGUARDS WALKING THROUGH CROWD (3 SHOTS) 0.29 2. MV/GV: PALESTINIANS
  • Embargoed: 15th January 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVACWY0LMW1EEG99TLNE3RV387UO
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has said he feared
    Israel would exploit the prospect of a U.S. war on Iraq by
    escalating its own military operations against Palestinians in
    the West Bank and Gaza Strip.



    Palestinian President Yasser Arafat voiced fears on
    Tuesday (December 31) that Israel would exploit the prospect
    of a U.S. war on Iraq by escalating its own military
    operations against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza
    Strip.

    Arafat made the comments at a rally marking the 38th
    anniversary of the foundation of his Fatah movement in the
    West Bank city of Ramallah as thousands demonstrated there and
    in a similar rally with assault rifles and dummy weapons in
    Gaza City.

    "The ghost of war that overshadows the Middle East
    represent today an open chance for the government of Israel
    and its occupation army to pursue its destructive war against
    our Palestinian people," Arafat said.

    The Palestinian leader has been largely holed up under
    Israel's military grip on Ramallah for over a year.

    At the rally to mark the 1965 founding of his Fatah
    faction, Arafat said Palestinians were extending a hand in
    peace and welcomed a recent call by international mediators
    for a truce.

    He also reiterated his opposition to targeting
    Israeli and Palestinian civilians in a Palestinian uprising
    against occupation.

    Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians packed a public
    square in Gaza City on Tuesday (December 31) dancing in the
    streets, chanting, and raising guns in the air.



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