Statement by the Palestinian Leadership

March 31, 2001

The Palestinian leadership Issued a statement today.  Here are excerpts from the statement:
 
Sharon's government has committed a brutal and shameful crime against the Palestinian people who took to the streets to mark the anniversary of “Land Day”, in a continuation to the Bombardment crime that targeted headquarters of our national security forces, hours after the conclusion of the Arab Leaders Summit.
 
The Israeli occupation forces brought military reinforcement of tanks in Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah, Hebron, Qalqilia and Gaza in an implementation to Sharon-Mofaz plan to strike the Palestinian people and to cause as many as possible of losses and causalities. These forces began to shoot fire and nerve gas bombs and tank shells and missiles on the popular rallies and at positions of the national security forces and on residential neighborhoods, when in fact these marches did not reach the Israeli military checkpoints.
 
The pre-planned Israeli crime by Sharon and Mofaz led to the martyrdom of six people and wounded 226, seven are in critical condition. Sharon's government which rejected all Arab and international efforts to put an end to the security deterioration and to resume peace talks, has decided to carry out the infamous “100-day plan” to bring the Palestinian people on their knees by force and aggression.
 
"The decision of the U.S. VETO has represented a clear encouragement for Sharon's government to continue its military plan and its aggressive war against our peaceful people, which the international legitimacy and human rights charters guaranteed their right to remain on their land and to defend their land against the military escalation to steal the land by the force of war and aggression.
 
The Palestinian leadership wants the international community to be aware of the Israeli crimes against our people who were killed by the Israeli bullets and tank shells yesterday. These excessive use of live ammunition and tank shelling on neighborhoods in Hebron, put a big question mark on this world silence which is conspiring with the Israeli aggression to deprive the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights to be afforded by an international protection. Could international protection be given for the aggressor and for the killer, while the victim and the peaceful people be deprived of this protection?
 
The Palestinian leadership urges the international community to shoulder its responsibilities according to the U.N. charter towards the Palestinian people. It is high time for the international community to raise its voice against the Israeli aggressors before the explosive situation reaches a deadlock, and before the last hope of making peace could be wasted to bring independence to the Palestinians, and stability and security to this important region of the world.