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Israeli Ceasefire Lie Aims to Mislead World Opinion: Arafat
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Yasser Arafat said on Wednesday that the ceasefire and de- escalation claimed by Israel with the Palestinians are a sheer lie.
He made the remark on his way back to the West Bank city of Ramallah from a trip to the Jordanian capital Amman.
"We have already expected them (Israelis) to do so, but they do not stop firing even for a short period," he said, adding that "it is just Israel's attempts to mislead the world opinion."
"Israeli troops are still firing shells and bullets at Palestinians while the Jewish settlers, under the Israeli army shield, are committing unspeakable crimes," said Arafat, who just ended a tour of Spain, Egypt and Jordan.
Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Redeina, Arafat's information advisor, held the Israeli government responsible for the escalation of attacks against the Palestinian people, urging Israel to honor the ceasefire.
He also accused the Israeli government of circumventing the international resolutions and international efforts led by the United States and the European Union to consolidate the ceasefire.
He called on the international community, especially the U.S., to pressure Israel to stop such abuses.
With regard to an upcoming visit by the U.S. Mideast envoy William Burns to the region, he said that there have been constant contacts between the Palestinian side and the U.S., adding that "We are waiting to see what the U.S. envoy can offer."
Burns, who is expected to return to the region in the coming days to sustain the fragile ceasefire, is now working on the political track to try to end the nearly nine month old Israeli- Palestinian conflict, which has killed more than 600 people, mostly Palestinians.
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