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Yemeni President Meets Arafat on Mideast Crisis
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh met Sunday, December 3, with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the persisting Palestinian "intifada" (uprising) and Israel's excessive use of force against the Palestinian people in occupied territories.
Arafat briefed Saleh on the results of his recent contacts and meetings with leaders of Arab countries on the Mideast situation and the Palestinian issue.
Saleh praised the Palestinian "al-Aqsa intifada" and highlighted the Yemeni people's support for it.
The Palestinians launched the "al-Aqsa intifada" after Israeli right-wing politician Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to the al-Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem on September 28 triggered violent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers.
Saleh stressed the necessity of Arab and Islamic material support for the Palestinian people until they restore their legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Yemeni president also underscored the importance of implementing the resolutions of the Cairo Arab Summit in October and the ninth summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Qatar in November, especially the resolutions on the Palestinian issue.
"The protection of the Palestinian people and the Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories is an Arab and Islamic responsibility," Saleh said.
He urged the international community to shoulder its humanitarian responsibility for stopping the "annihilation war" waged against the Palestinian people, and called on the United Nations and the Security Council to deploy a peace-keeping force in Palestine to protect the unarmed Palestinian people and their holy sites.
Arafat also spoke highly of the bold positions of the Yemeni leader and his support for the Palestinian rights and the intifada.
On Sunday evening Saleh hosted an "Iftar" (Muslim breakfast) banquet in honour of Arafat and his delegation.
Arafat, who arrived here Sunday afternoon after a visit to the United Arab Emirates, left for home in the evening.
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