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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday said in a speech addressed to members of the Palestinian legislative Council (PLC), or parliament, that he is ready to retire as the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
Saying it as a joke, he was laughing while delivering the speech: "if you want to replace me, I'm ready; you would do me a favor and I would take a break. And if you want me also to leave the PLO executive committee, I will do."
Arafat said that the Israeli government and the Israeli army used the attacks carried out by Palestinian militants against civilians inside Israel "to carry out a widespread military aggression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and GazaStrip."
In the speech addressed to the PLC members who came at his besieged headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, he said that Israel "uses the bombing attacks as an excuse to continue its war against the Palestinians."
"The Israelis are using these attacks to hide their crimes against our people, and these attacks give Israel the excuse to kill, destroy, assassinate and violate the international laws and signed agreements," said Arafat.
Arafat said that he and the Palestinian people condemn all kindsof attacks, "especially suicide bombing attacks carried out by Palestinian militants," that target all civilians, no matter if they are Israelis or Palestinians.
He told his parliament that he condemns "every act of terror against Israeli civilians," but did not say explicitly that the attacks must be halted.
Arafat also said the world expects a clear message from the Palestinian people that they are ready to negotiate peace with Israel and carry out internal reforms.
He said that after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington, the Palestinians became the victims of "this world terrorism."
"As soon as the attacks were carried out in the United States, the Israeli government had immediately used these attacks and directly classified the Palestinians among terrorists and we becamethe victims of this international terror," said Arafat.
Arafat reiterated that the reforms in the PNA and the implementation of law "are very important" in a democratic way thatwould "reinforce our people's position in front of the world."
The Palestinian leader said "We call upon any country in the world to help us practicing democracy by sending international observers to watch the presidential and parliamentary elections," which are scheduled for next January.
Arafat blasted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for announcing two days ago that all the signed agreements with the Palestinians in Oslo and Taba and Wye River are not valid any more.
"Those who are ruling now the Israeli government are those who assassinated my Israeli peace partner Yitzhak Rabin, and they are who canceled Oslo, Taba and Wye River agreements," said Arafat.
The PLC convened on Monday at Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
PLC Speaker Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Alla, opened the meeting by saying "We begin our meeting today in extremely difficult and complicated circumstance while destruction resulted from the Israeli occupation is around us."
Abu Alla announced the end of the sixth round of the parliament,then he and the secretariat of the PLC resigned before the law makers.
Abu Alla won again as the speaker of the PLC for the coming parliamentary period.
"We are meeting here today while the Israeli army tanks are besieging this place, and the Israeli aggression on our people and our leadership is continued round the clock," said Abu Alla.
About 13 members from the Gaza Strip were banned by Israel from going to the West Bank to attend the PLC meeting. However, the 13 members attended the meeting via Video Conference facilities in Gaza.
Parliamentarians from several countries, diplomats and notables attended the meeting.
"we appeal to all world's parliaments as well the Israeli Knesset (parliament) to condemn the Israeli measures of preventing Palestinian parliamentarians from attending this important meeting," said Abu Alla.
The PLC members would vote for giving confidence to the new reshuffled government assigned in June by Arafat after announcing in May a campaign of reforms in the PNA.
(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2002)
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