WAR IS COMING -- WATCH ISRAEL
[Official radio station of the Palestinian Authority led by Yasir Arafat]
[Report on interview with Dr. Nabil Sha'th, official in charge of planning and international cooperation in the Palestinian Authority;
from "A New Day" feature]
LAST PART ONLY:
On the date of the declaration of the Palestinian state, Sha'th said: "We earlier said that we will declare the Palestinian state regardless of the results. This is a final, irreversible decision, because if reversed it it will be like telling the occupation administration
to stay there in light of an interim rule until it decides when we can reach final rule. On that day, we will declare the Palestinian state that has sovereignty over the entire Palestinian land that was occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem. This state will seek through all means to regain what remains of the land, which Israel may still be occupying then."
Netanyahu said the declaration of the Palestinian state will lead to an Israeli incursion, what did Sha'th say about that?
"In my opinion, this response is criminal. It means that a state, which is a member of the United Nations, publicly announces that it
will launch a military attack to occupy land, which -- according to the international organization and Resolution 242 -- is already
occupied and from which Israel should withdraw. He means that Israel does not want a peaceful solution. Once the state is declared, we will not stand idly by if Israel carries out an aggression on this land. We will resist this, because we have resisted them for 90 years. Our people have been fighting since the British occupation. When we resorted to peace and accepted the peace process, we did not accept relinquishing any single inch of our land. If Israel is ready to continue withdrawal peacefully, we are with that peace. If they attack us on 4 May, we will have no choice but to defend ourselves. Israel uses this to claim that we want to return to war. There is a difference between preparing for invasion and self-defense, which is a legitimate right for all people and countries. Although there is a big difference between us and Israel in terms of armament and material power, I want to recall that we once resisted them on Arab land -- Beirut -- for 88 days. It is not a question of power. Our people have the determination to continue living. Our Arab brothers and the international community must back us." |
