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Arafat Calls on Islamic Leaders to Help End Israeli Siege
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat November 12 briefed the Islamic leaders on the situation in the Palestinian territories and called them to adopt appropriate decision to put an end to Israeli siege on the Palestinian territories.
In an unscheduled, but emotional speech at the opening session of the ninth summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Arafat strongly condemned Israeli "premeditated aggressive war" against the Palestinians and its economic blockade, which he said has led to the loss of hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars for Palestine.
Since the eruption of the bloody clashes between Palestinian protesters and fully-armed Israeli forces, which were triggered by Israeli right-winger Ariel Sharon's visit to a disputed Jerusalem site revered by both Jews and Muslims, Israel periodically sealed off Palestinian territories and about 380,000 Palestinians lost their job as a result.
So far, nearly 190 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers in what the Muslims called intifada (uprising) against Israel.
Arafat said the uprising was correct and just and was for freedom and independence, stressing the Palestinians would say no to peace of submissiveness and capitulation and peace that consecrates occupation of the Palestinian land and Islamic holy places.
Thanking Arab and world leaders for their efforts to stop the Palestinian-Israeli clashes and their support for the Palestinian people, the Palestinian leader also called on the OIC members "to adopt appropriate decision on the basis of the spirit of brotherhood and the common destiny that bind us together" to put an end to Israeli aggression and siege.
In view of the grave situation in the Palestinian territories, the current OIC summit put the Palestinian issue on the top of its agenda and for the first time drafted a special communique on Palestinian issue.
The pan-Islamic OIC, set up in 1970, groups 56 members with 1.2 billion Muslims all over the world.
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