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World Opinion Demands Israeli Withdrawal

The situation in the Middle East is quickly reaching a point of no return. For the last four days, Israeli troops have encircled the headquarters of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, shelling it intermittently. The world has listened in some disbelief as different world leaders have tried to intervene to ensure the Israeli Defence Forces do not assassinate the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people.

On March 30, the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed (with Syria's abstention) special resolution 1402, which calls for an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.

While the U.S. supported the Security Council resolution and Secretary of State Colin Powell has called for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Arafat's office in Ramallah, President George Bush has stated the Israeli actions are justified by their desire to end terrorist attacks, specifically suicide bombings. In the first three days of the siege of Yasser Arafat, there were three suicide bombings. A spokesperson for Yasser Arafat who is trapped with him pointed out in media interviews that it would be virtually impossible for Arafat to intervene to stop the bombings as he is cut off from the outside world.

Many world leaders have been calling openly for Israel to comply with Resolution 1402, while others are reported to be putting tremendous pressure on Israeli through various diplomatic channels. A spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs envoy Javier Solano told the media "The EU welcomes the resolution (1402) ... and we ask for an immediate and full implementation of the two main issues agreed in the resolution."

French President Jacques Chirac, speaking in an interview with TV5, said he hoped Arafat's life was not in danger. "He is still the only possible negotiator with Israel. Any threat to his physical capacity to negotiate would be a grave error."

The French and German foreign ministers have both called on Israel to allow the Palestinian Authority to function as normal. "They agreed that respect for the personal safety of Yasser Arafat is an absolute necessity," said a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan spoke by phone with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres, stressing that Arafat's personal safety must be ensured. Tang said the immediate withdrawal would be not only in the interests of long term security in the Middle East, but in the self-interest of Israel itself.

Morocco's King Mohammed telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on March 31 and on behalf of the Arab states, urged Israel to halt its military operations against all cities in occupied Palestine. King Mohammed is reported to have asked for and personal assurance from Sharon that President Arafat would not be harmed.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is reported to have offered Arafat secure transportation to Cairo as a means of ensuring his personal safety. However, Arafat has said he is prepared to die a martyr's death, and will not leave his headquarters.