PREPARATION FOR WAR

ARAFAT CALLS FOR URGENT ARAB SUMMIT -- "to rescue Jerusalem from
the talons of the Israeli occupation and the cancer of the Jewish
settlements"

Weekend News Today Source: Excite News Thu Mar 19 , 1998

Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat has called for an
urgent Arab summit meeting to confront the Israeli policy of
expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, UPI
reported. "I'm urging my brothers, the Arab leaders, to gather as
soon as possible to rescue Jerusalem from the talons of the
Israeli occupation and the cancer of the Jewish settlements,"
Arafat said in a statement published by the Palestinian news
agency Wafa. The statement said: "Israel depends on Europe for 67
percent of its economic relations. This is one of the strong
means in Europe's hands to put an end to this Israeli
stubbornness and challenge." 


MUFTI JUSTIFIES ATTACKS ON ISRAEL

IINS News Service -Israel-3/20

Jerusalem's top Moslem cleric has said attacks against Israeli
civilians are legitimate, as long as Israel continues to "occupy
Palestinian lands".  Jerusalem's PLO Authority (PA)-appointed
Grand Mufti Ikrama Sabri told visiting Cairo-based reporters on
Wednesday night that Islamic suicide bombings were a legitimate
response to the Israeli army's action against Arabs.  "I believe
suicide bombings are a response to the occupation. It isn't a
matter of whether these bombings are legitimate or not. Their
(Israeli) army kills innocent women and children, the bombers
kill innocent civilians. Why does the army have the right to do
that and we don't?'' Sabri said.  "If Israel does not respond to
peaceful initiatives to solve the problem with the Palestinians,
then it is legitimate to fight against it as a sort of
self-defense,'' he added.

Sabri said he would not meet with any Jewish clerics, before
Israel withdrew from "occupied lands". Sabri, who was appointed
by Arafat, told reporters Israel would never be totally secure
unless it withdrew from Arab territories.

"The main problem is the presence of the occupation forces and
Israel's non-compliance with the peace accords. It appears they
regret even signing these accords. When the occupation ends,
we'll see if there is any more violence,'' he said.  "I believe
that the problem of Jerusalem and the peace process will not be
solved as long as America supports Israel,'' he said. (Reuters)