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Arafat Reiterates Statehood with Jerusalem as Capital
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat reiterated that the Palestinians have the right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital no matter whether Israel likes or not.
In a taped address to his people who commemorated the Nakba Day Tuesday, Arafat called on the Palestinians to "keep faith and patience" in the road to peace.
Nakba Day, or day of catastrophe, is marked by the Palestinians for their sufferings resulting from the creation of Israel in 1948. Arafat said that the Palestinians are just, brave and steadfast to restore their legitimate rights.
Strongly denouncing Israel's escalating aggression against the Palestinian people, its economic siege on the occupied territories, he said that all these can not ruin the resolve of the Palestinian people to wage their just struggle.
He urged the international community to make concerted efforts to help stop Israeli use of military power and bring the peace process back on track.
"Palestinians have tried to live together in peace with Israel, and the road to peace is clear," he said.
Achieving a just, comprehensive peace is the only way out of the Mideast plight, and will be good for both the Palestinians and Israelis and the region as a whole, he added.
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