‘No peace till status of Jerusalem remains unresolved’

Palestinian leader Arafat talking to Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star. PHOTO: AKM Mohsin

A summary reproduction of an exclusive interview of the Palestinian leader taken by Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Anwarul Haq, former Chief Reporter of The Daily Star in March, 1997.

"Jerusalem is not only a Palestinian cause, but is also an Arab cause, an Islamic cause and an international cause. There can be no permanent peace in the Middle East as long as the problem of Jerusalem remains unresolved," asserted President Yasser Arafat.

"There is a conspiracy to destroy the peace process. But Israel must realise that there can be no durable peace unless the agreement reached between us is implemented in full." "We are not asking for the moon, but only for what has been already agreed upon," said a visibly angry Arafat.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star at his Sheraton Hotel suite yesterday, the 68-year old legendary leader of the Palestinian people expressed his deep regret at the role of the United States in the recent UN Security Council debate during which the US twice vetoed resolutions supported by all other members of the Council. The UN resolutions condemned the planned Israeli settlement in east Jerusalem.

Arafat expressed his belief that US President Bill Clinton personally understood the Palestinian position but that his administration was not supporting him fully. "The Jewish lobby is working very hard to jeopardise the process."

The Palestinian leader said Japan, Russia, China, the European Union and all other Western powers were unequivocal in their support for the Palestinian resolution in the UN Security Council. It is only the US that had opposed, he pointed out.

The international community must be made to understand that the present crisis is a very serious one and it would have its ramifications globally if it was not resolved immediately.

"It is the most serious crisis facing the Palestinian people in the recent past," said Arafat, adding that Israel must be pressured into honouring the peace agreement which was signed in the presence of President Clinton.

In response to a question as to what Bangladesh could do to support the Palestinian cause, he said. "It is most important to implement the OIC resolution adopted at the Islamabad special summit on March 23."