France’s Foreign minister yesterday demanded Israel allow Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to travel freely, pledged full French support for the Palestinians and asked Israel to halt construction of the West Bank security fence which is said to be saving lives.
“I’ve seen [Arafat’s] situation, and it is not suitable for him nor for the Palestinian people whom he represents,” said French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. “… This is the reason for my visit.”
Barnier asked Israel to free the Palestinian leader from his battered Ramallah compound.
The French minister made the statements after a two-day visit to Ramallah, where he met with Arafat, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and other top officials.
Nabin Abu Radiniah, senior aide to Arafat, told WND, “We are very appreciative of Barnier’s remarks. They will be helpful to end Israel’s agression against the leader of the Palestinian people.”
Radiniah confirmed for WND reports that Barnier delivered a personal message from French President Jacques Chirac to Arafat in which France’s full backing for the Palestinian cause was reiterated.
With regard to Ariel Sharon’s plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, Barnier said: “We think that the withdrawal from Gaza should be part of the road map. Israel must stop building the wall and stop confiscating land and stop the destruction and demolitions.”
Barnier also called on the Palestinians to take steps against violence.
“The Palestinians have to put an end to acts of violence and punish those responsible,” Barnier said after the meeting.
“Peace needs to be built together, by both sides, and it requires parallel and reciprocal efforts, and this also means efforts on the Israeli side.”
Barnier announced that Arafat had assured him of his commitment to implement “all aspects of the road map” and said Arafat was willing to take steps toward peace.
But Sharon, recently meeting with his advisers to review an Egyptian security proposal that also called for the release of Arafat, said the 74-year-old Palestinian ruler will remain confined to his compound “for the next 45 years,” a participant in the meeting said.
An Israeli official told WND he was “disgusted but not surprised by France’s attempts to counter the measures Israel has taken to isolate Arafat, the grandfather of terrorism and the biggest obstacle to peace in the region.”
“And no one in the international community has any doubt that Israel’s security fence is working; it’s keeping suicide bombers out,” the official said. “Israel will continue to take the necessary means we are forced by Arafat and his terrorists into taking to protect ourselves from suicide attacks.”
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