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EU Protests Israeli Attack Saturday March 30, 2002 2:30 AM http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-1623568,00.html PARIS (AP) - The 15 European Union nations collectively protested Israel's attack on Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters Friday, with Italy pressing Israel to guarantee the Palestinian leader's safety. The EU also called on Israel to withdraw its troops from the town of Ramallah, where Arafat's complex is located. At the same time, the EU urged the Palestinian Authority to halt the current ``spiral of violence'' and punish those responsible for the recent string of attacks on Israelis. Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said Israel's fight against terrorism and its response to recent attacks must be compatible with safeguarding the Palestinian Authority and its president - ``the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people.'' In France, President Jacques Chirac said ``any attack on (Arafat's) ability to act, or on his person, would be extremely serious.'' The French leader also urged Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to ``immediately take all measures to stop the violence.'' ``Nothing can excuse or justify blind terrorism against civilians,'' Chirac told France-Info radio. ``Everyone knows there cannot be a military solution to the conflict in the Middle East.'' French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine accused Israel of obsessing over Arafat and trying to ``asphyxiate'' him. ``It's a complete illusion to believe that, even with Arafat elsewhere or replaced by whatever Palestinian chief, the problem would be different,'' Vedrine told RFI radio. Israel sent troops and tanks to break into Arafat's Ramallah compound, battling his security forces and shelling the buildings. Arafat took refuge in a windowless room, although Israeli officials said they were not trying to hurt him. The operation was a response to the latest string of Palestinian attacks, including a Passover massacre that killed 22 diners at a seafront hotel in Israel. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government asked Israel to guarantee Arafat's security and respect his elected position. ``It is fundamental that deeds are not carried out which can prejudice the prospects for a resumption of dialogue,'' a government statement said. Berlusconi's government also said it made a new appeal to the Palestinian Authority to prevent acts of terrorism against unarmed civilians and to dismantle terrorist structures. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou condemned the Israeli military action, saying his country had ``ties, both friendly and personal, with President Arafat.'' ``For us Arafat is not an enemy, and beyond this he is also a personal friend,'' said Papandreou, who also condemned the terror attacks on Israelis. About 1,500 Greek and Palestinian protesters chanting, ``Freedom for Palestine!'' and banging steel drums gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Athens to protest the military action. Police riot squads kept the protesters from the building. __________________ Guardian Unlimited � Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 http://www.guardian.co.uk/ ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Starts & ends at the colonnade between Grand & Lakeshore Avenues, 3 P.M., every Sunday. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
