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Arafat Addresses Palestinian Legislative Council

Aired May 15, 2002 - 05:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is now addressing the Palestinian Legislative Council. It is his first speech to law makers in some time and he's been talking about the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian territories.

Let's hear some of what he has to say.

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (through translator): This is all verses from the Koran and all those who have been struck by catastrophe, they should always say that we to God belong and to God we will return, and we shall return.

We have announced in the past we will reiterate our announcement today, our rejection of all kinds of operations that target Israeli civilians as well as what -- to -- what our Palestinian civilians are subjected to or targeted to, like what happened in Jenin and I would say Jeningrad like in Stalingrad.

I want the whole world to hear that, come and see what -- not Stalingrad, something even worse than what happened in Stalingrad and that was in Jeningrad. The world -- the public -- the Palestinian public opinion and the Arab public opinion have now become convinced that these operations do not serve our interests and our goals and yet they antagonize large segments of the international community that created Israel, gave her money and weapons and protection, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

And you all know more than I do. These operations...

COSTELLO: And perhaps the most important thing Yasser Arafat said earlier, he said, and I quote, "Peace has always been our strategic option and we will never abandon that option. Peace gives common interest to both peoples, Palestinians and Israelis."

Arafat, of course, told that to the Palestinian Legislature, where he continues to speak in Ramallah this morning.

We'll continue to monitor this and bring you more as it happens.

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