Arafat Vows to Continue Fighting

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 29, 2002

Arafat Vows to Continue Fighting

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Besieged Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat promised tens of thousands of Palestinians who demonstrated to mark the 2nd anniversary of Palestinian intifada, or uprising, that the fighting against Israeli occupation would continue until it achieves its goals.

Arafat made the pledge in a telephone address to about 30,000 Palestinians demonstrated before the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) building in Gaza City.

"This is our procession and this is our road and target that we had chosen," said Arafat.

He said "Israelis are trying with all of their power, weapons and ammunition to break the will of the toughest people. But I tellthem no one would be able to break this will, which is continuing until getting Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state."

"Allah, God would reward the Palestinian people who are fightingagainst their enemy which occupies their holy sites," Arafat said, adding "Allah would never defy his promise. It is our promise not as individuals, but as people and this revolution would continue and win by the help of Allah."

The crowd of demonstrators chanted slogans against Israel, wavedPalestinian flags and pictures of those who were killed during the intifada and called for the continuation of the intifada.

"I came here to tell Israel that it is hard to break the determination of the Palestinian people," said Ahmed Sallam, 28, one of the demonstrators surrounding his neck with the black-and-while Palestinian Kaffeya, or scarf.

Hospitals officials in the Gaza Strip announced on Saturday thatit would be a status of emergency in case of receiving casualties shot and wounded during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the day.

Two Palestinians were killed and at least 12 others were injuredin the Gaza Strip during the demonstration to remark the uprising anniversary.

Arafat has been confined into his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah since December last year. However, the Israeli siege was tightened about ten days ago, where the Israeli army destroyed most of the buildings surrounded his office in Al Muqata in the town.

The ongoing Palestinian intifada, or uprising started on September 28, 2000 after Israel and the Palestinians failed on Julyin Camp David in the United States to find a permanent peaceful solution to end decades of conflict between them.

Since then, a total of 2540 people have been killed, including 1,875 Palestinians and 614 Israelis, with the balance made up of foreign nationals.

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