Arafat Prefers to Be 'Shahid' Rather Than Expelled

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Arafat Prefers to Be 'Shahid' Rather Than Expelled

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Tuesday rejected a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Arafat leave the Palestinian territories and go to any Arab country with "one way ticket."

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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Tuesday rejected a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Arafat leave the Palestinian territories and go to any Arab country with "one way ticket."

Speaking to Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Satellite Television, Arafat said "I told them, I prefer to become a Shahid (Martyr). Our people are the toughest people, and I'm one of them."

Arafat accused Israel for expanding its military offensive on the Palestinians, adding that the Israeli army broke into Bethlehem, "the town where Jesus Christ was born" and attacked churches and mosques.

"Do the Islamic world, the Christian world and the whole world accept this," Arafat said. "We are not only defending our people, we are defending the cause all Moslems and Christians all over the world."

Arafat described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, his cabinet ministers and Israeli army commanders for being "rude" when they said that they got a green light from the United States to carry out their wide offensive against the Palestinians.

"Is it reasonable? No one responds to them, to their rudeness and their claims," said Arafat, adding that he thanks all Arab nations and leaders of Arab countries for their support they showed to the Palestinians in the crisis.

Early in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that he would let Palestinian President Yasser Arafat leave his besieged headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah only on condition that he would not return to the Palestinian territories.

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