Palestinian officials call on militants to lay down arms

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

A welcomed step.

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Over 60 prominent Palestinian officials and intellectuals Thursday urged the public to refrain from retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, saying it would ignite a new round of bloodshed that would only hurt Palestinian aspirations for independence.

A half-page advertisement in the PLO’s Al-Ayyam newspaper called on Palestinians to lay down their arms and turn to peaceful means of protest to end Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The ad reflected apparently growing sentiment among many Palestinian leaders and intellectuals that military struggle is not helping the Palestinian cause.

Yassin was killed in an Israel Defense Forces air strike Monday, prompting an outpouring of anger on Palestinian streets. Hamas has promised to strike back, saying even Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is a target.

The intellectuals who signed Thursday’s ad - including lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi, Nablus Governor Mahmoud Aloul, Geneva Accord co-author and PLO Executive Committee member Yasser Abed Rabbo and Abbas Zaki, a leading member of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement - said such revenge attacks would lead to a strong Israeli retaliation and further hurt the Palestinian cause.

The group called on the public to “rise again in a peaceful, wise intifada.” While saying the 37-year occupation must be brought down, they asked the public to reconsider the benefits of a violent struggle.

“Responding to Sharon could be by showing his moral and political bankruptcy rather than adopting his methods and exacting revenge,” Ashrawi told the Reuters news agency. " Resistance does not have to be violent resistance."

Yassin’s assassination has led to a heightened security alert throughout Israel, with police, border patrol and troops roaming city streets and setting up impromptu roadblocks in sensitive areas. The Foreign Ministry has increased security at its embassies, consulates and missions abroad.

-edit- (link)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/25/palestinians.ap/index.html

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Bravo,

I hereby demand hearings before the Palestinian people on the policy of "intifada". I do not think it is working out too well.

Arafat, Yassin, somehow people have convinced themselves that these failed political figures are "symbols of the resistance". It may appeal to pride and some misplaced sense of manhood, but violent protest has gained the Palestinians nothing, absolutely nothing.

The intellectuals will not be listened to.... will some Muslims around here please start calling the intifada a "quagmire", or Palestines' "Vietnam"?

I won't hold my breath....