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Political Statement
By
The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation(MOPIC)
Seven months ago, the then head of the Israeli opposition, Ariel Sharon, staged an outright provocation on Thursday 28th September 2000, by invading the Haram El-Sharif, escorted by a huge military force, in violation of the status quo prevailing on the Haram, under the pretext of a private visit. This gross violation of all rules, laws and agreements, was met with mass Palestinian peaceful protest. Yet, the occupation forces faced these protests with shockingly excessive use of force that led to seven months of bloodshed with more than 400 Palestinian martyrs and over 15,000 injured.
In the same staged manner, the current Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, on Thursday 5th April 2001, gave orders to the Israeli security forces to enable Jews to enter the Haram El-Sharif.
Once again, Mr. Ariel Sharon is deliberately looking for more bloodshed that will not be restricted to Jerusalem but will spread to the entire region. This new provocation and act of aggression is a clear invitation by Mr. Sharon to change the course of the ongoing conflict and take it beyond the boundaries of Palestine and Israel. This act not only violates the status quo in Jerusalem, but is also in contravention of international law, international conventions and all professed Israeli commitments to peace. It is also against the ruling of the Israeli High Court of Justice on Thursday 5th April 2001, that rejected the petition by the "Temple Mount Faithful" group to order the government to allow them to pray on the Haram El-Sharif during the Pessah holiday. Moreover, it is against the Israeli Police statement to the High Court where the Israeli Police believed that such an act would "trigger bloodshed in Jerusalem and throughout Israel". Prime Minister Sharon's latest provocation accompanied by his decision to build new settlements, is a crystal clear challenge to the international community and to international law.
We regret to see such alarming messages sent to us by the Israeli Government after our endless efforts to restore negotiations and put an end to seven months of bloodshed. The meeting in Athens between Dr. Nabeel Sha'ath and Mr. Shimon Peres, under the auspices of the EU is a clear example of our commitment. The security meeting under the auspices of the USA was another example of both our sincere efforts and Israeli aggression, since it concluded with an assassination attempt against the heads of our security forces at the Beit Hanoun checkpoint on 4th April 2001.
The Palestinian leadership urges your esteemed Government to do everything possible to prevent the region from a potential catastrophe that will be beyond any control if the Israeli Government proceeds in its provocative and war-seeking approach. Moreover, we hope that your Government will put pressure on the Israeli Government to respect: international law and refrain from any provocative policies, mainly in Jerusalem and including all settlement activities. Those are actions that will lead to further deterioration on the local level, which will in turn lead to further deterioration in the whole region.
Ramallah, 7th April 2001
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