- Title: WEST BANK: PLO LEADER ARAFAT SPEAKS IN QALQILYA AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF ISRAELIS
- Date: 31st December 1995
- Summary: QALQILYA, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 31, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION (PLO) CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT'S HELICOPTER LANDS NEAR CITY SQUARE / HONOUR GUARD WAITING ON TARMAC (2 SHOTS) 0.09 2. LV/SV YASSER ARAFAT GETS OFF HELICOPTER / ARAFAT BEING WELCOMED BY AN HONOUR GUARD (5 SHOTS) 0.46 3. SV THOUSANDS AT CITY SQUARE WAVING FLAGS AND CHEERING AS CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT ADDRESSES CROWD 0.51 4. SV YASSER ARAFAT SPEAKING FROM ROOFTOP (ARABIC) / CROWD (3 SHOTS) 1.21 5. SLV SECURITY GUARD ON ROOF / PAN TO GV CROWDS 1.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 15th January 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: QALQILYA, WEST BANK
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVAEUT4K7HN3PVUBHL939CVIQ41D
- Story Text: Thousands gathered in the West Bank town of Qalqilya on Sunday (December 31) to listen to Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat urge them to respect their Israeli neighbours.
The town was handed over to Palestinian rule by Israel two weeks ago.
"You are living in a strategic location. I ask you, protect and respect good neighbourly relations with the Israelis who are living near you," he told the great cheering crowd while surrounded by heavy security and speaking from the roof of a municipal building.
Qalqilya, one of the West Bank towns closest to central Israel, borders the Israeli town of Kfar Saba and overlooks the Tel Aviv area, the Jewish state's sprawling metropolis.
Some residents of Kfar Saba fear Palestinians under self-rule will be free to make cross-border raids now that Israeli troops no longer patrol the town.
Qalqilya was one of six West Bank towns Israel handed over to Palestinian rule under a September peace deal, pulling its troops out after 28 years of occupation.
Arafat also urged residents to vote in Palestinian elections on January 20, another key component of the peace deal, telling them to elect the best candidates even if they thought he was not among them.
More than 700 Palestinians are competing for an 88-seat council. In a separate contest, Arafat is running for president of the council and is opposed by one other candidate.
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