Posted on 11/10/2004 9:23:40 PM PST by veronica
French President Jacques Chirac, confirming Yasser Arafat's death, hailed the Palestinian leader on Thursday as a man of courage and conviction who embodied the Palestinian struggle for a state.
"It is with emotion that I have just learnt of the death of President Yasser Arafat, the first elected president of the Palestinian Authority," Chirac said in a written statement. "I offer my very sincere condolences to his family and to people close to him."
Chirac urged the international community to persevere with efforts to ensure an international peace plan known as the road map is put into effect in the Middle East.
Palestine Liberation Organisation official Yasser Abed Rabbo announced a 40-day mourning period for Arafat starting Thursday morning.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad expressed sorrow over Arafat's death and paid tribute.
Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas's spokesman in Gaza, called on the group's supporters to honor Arafat and work toward national unity.
"We lost by his death one of our great symbols and one of the main focuses of our national struggle and identity," Abu Zuhri told The Associated Press.
Islamic Jihad spokesman in Gaza Nafez Azzam said "with hearts full of belief in God's will we mourn President Yasser Arafat who was a great leader for the Palestinian people."
Blaming Arafat for global terrorism and the failure to achieve Middle East peace, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid expressed hope Thursday that a new Palestinian leadership would put down militant groups and negotiate with Israel.
The comments by Justice Minister Yosef Lapid marked the first reaction by a top Israeli official to Arafat's death at a French hospital before dawn Thursday.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's aides declined comment.
Lapid focused on Arafat's image in Israel as a terrorist.
"I hated him for the deaths of Israelis ... I hated him for not allowing the peace process ... to move forward," Lapid told Israel Radio.
"It is one of the tragedies of the world that he didn't understand that the terror that began here would spread to the entire world," he added.
President Moshe Katsav said he hopes the Palestinians will recover swiftly from their grief and will elect a new and trustworthy leadership that will be able to act to their benefit.
Katsav said he hopes a new Palestinian leadership can put an end to violence and turn a new page in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
U.S. President George W. Bush's offered his condolences to the Palestinian people on the death of Arafat.
"The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinian history," Bush said in a statement issued by the White House. "For the Palestinian people, we hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors. During the period of transition that is ahead, we urge all in the region and throughout the world to join in helping make progress toward these goals and toward the ultimate goal of peace."
The State Department said Wednesday that Israel must implement Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan despite the death of Arafat.
a terrorists ...... plan and simple ...... a thief , and a murder..... up there with pal pot...
can Chirac be next?
Chirac is an asswipe.
Me too, Jockstrap. My emotion was "overwhelming joy". How about you, you French POS!
I'm sure Jacques is entitled to some of his cash stash.
Screw you, Frog!
which explains why he'd want to "honor" an *ss-packer.....
L
Vous auriez bien aimer Hitler, alors, M. Chirac.
Chirac was Yasshole's 'swipe! Hooray, the rat faced monster is dead!
Without bothering to read the entire article...pftttt. Being an agnostic, I hope that murderering scumbag burns in whatever hell exists, or forever lives in pergatory. There is not a sympathetic bone in body for that disgusting homicidal beast.
Between Arafart's death and George Bush's re-election, Chirac and Jimmah Carter will have plenty to cry on each others' shoulders over.
A filthy leech..
Arafat was an enemy. Chiraq is an enemy. But now we can step back and let the Palestinian "brothers" wipe each other out.
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