An abhorrent act that must be rejected

Loathsome that it is, the heinous crime committed against innocent civilians in West Jerusalem yesterday is directed against the PNA as much as it is directed towards the Israeli people. It is rejected, it is abhorrent and should not have happened.

No one other than the bereaved, individually or collectively will suffer from this action as will the PNA and the Palestinian people.
The infamous bus bombings that occurred in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other places in February and March of 1996 played directly into the hands of extremists opposing the peace process in Israel, and effectively brought Netanyahu into office in Israel and defeated the government of Shimon Peres. The Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership know very well the position of Netanyahu vis-a-vis the peace process and know that Netanyahu will do and is doing his best to empty the peace process from its genuine contents rendering it unworkable. This latest attack on civilians in West Jerusalem will give Netanyahu an enhanced card to play with in his bid to destroy what remained of the peace process.

It is very important for all the peoples of the world to know the following facts:

1. The PNA authority in terms of security in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza does not cover more than 3% of the total area.
2. The Israeli occupation army is in full control of all entrances leading to what is termed Israeli proper, i.e. Israel before 1967.
3. All those who enter into Israel proper must have a permit and a clearance from the Israeli Authorities i.e. the Israeli security branches.
4. Israel selectively and randomly applies its closure policies as it wishes at any time.
5. In 98% of the total area of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel arrests any Palestinian, detains abruptly, prevent entry to any individual, groups, vehicles or any other form of transport. As a matter of fact Israel arrested hundreds of people over the last few months interrogated them and placed them in administrative detention.

Furthermore, almost on a daily basis the Israeli government confiscates more and more Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza, expands and builds new Jewish settlements, destroys Palestinian houses under the pretext of being built without permissions, and revokes the residency permits of Palestinians of Arab East Jerusalem.

The Israeli border police harass and humiliate Palestinian men and women crossing the check points, young Palestinian men undergo severe brutalities from Israeli border policemen manning the roads all over the West Bank and Gaza. A young Palestinian man was shot dead Tuesday July 29 while coming home from work because he defended himself from a group of armed Israeli soldiers beating him. Because the man stood up for himself, he was shot dead, the Israeli soldier who shot him claimed self defense.

As things stand now, all Palestinian cities in the West Bank are placed under curfew, Palestinians are confined to their towns and villages, the hardships are increasing, desperate circumstances are being created.

While the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority in the person of President Arafat condemn the criminal act perpetrated by terrorists in West Jerusalem Wednesday, we call upon the Israeli government not to allow the perpetrators to win the day. Collective punishment did not work before and will not work now. The basis upon which the peace process was initiated must be restored, the American Administration is asked to play a constructive role in these black days and to assume its role and responsibility as a co-sponsor of the peace process. The PNA is exerting and will exert 100% effort to stop any criminal or terrorist actions that will harm the peace process.

Palestine Ministry of Information
August 1,1997