Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau called today upon the Israeli public \"to maintain human dignity and that of the country, and not take private initiatives of vengeance, despite the fact that these are natural instincts of citizens [at this time].\" Referring to the venomous anti-Israeli incitement of the Palestinian educational system, Rabbi Lau said, \"These are not wild weeds - but rather entire greenhouses planted with poison and hatred.\" Voice of Palestinian Radio opened its news reports today with mention of the \"poison gas that Israel uses against the Palestinian nation,\" as well as reports from the funeral of Masoud Ayad, the Fatah/Hizbullah leader killed by Israeli forces yesterday. Calls for additional and more severe acts of terrorism against Israel were sounded at the funeral.
The intifada leadership, comprising representatives of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others, announced that its members would continue to carry out terrorist attacks \"in response to the murder of the Palestinian nation.\"
Arafat did not condemn today\'s terrorist attack, but rather said it was the direct result of “increased Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.” He spoke differently to the foreign press, however. In Turkey today - where he made sudden arrangements to visit immediately after learning of today\'s attack - Arafat told foreign media correspondents that he is against all manifestations of escalations of violence. He said that as far as he knows, the attack today was a \"traffic accident.\"
At least one Israeli Knesset Member agrees with Arafat, although with a change of nuance. Arab MK Azmi Bishara, said that the attack today was the result of the \"Israeli conquest.\" In addition, PA Secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman said, \"The Barak Government should blame itself because violence is answered with violence... the aggression of the government of Israel against the Palestinians pushes them to acts of desperation.\"
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP) complained to the Knesset Ethics Committee that \"MK Bishara represents the enemy in the Knesset… He enjoys all the benefits of our democracy, and takes advantage of them to harm us.\"
The intifada leadership, comprising representatives of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others, announced that its members would continue to carry out terrorist attacks \"in response to the murder of the Palestinian nation.\"
Arafat did not condemn today\'s terrorist attack, but rather said it was the direct result of “increased Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.” He spoke differently to the foreign press, however. In Turkey today - where he made sudden arrangements to visit immediately after learning of today\'s attack - Arafat told foreign media correspondents that he is against all manifestations of escalations of violence. He said that as far as he knows, the attack today was a \"traffic accident.\"
At least one Israeli Knesset Member agrees with Arafat, although with a change of nuance. Arab MK Azmi Bishara, said that the attack today was the result of the \"Israeli conquest.\" In addition, PA Secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman said, \"The Barak Government should blame itself because violence is answered with violence... the aggression of the government of Israel against the Palestinians pushes them to acts of desperation.\"
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP) complained to the Knesset Ethics Committee that \"MK Bishara represents the enemy in the Knesset… He enjoys all the benefits of our democracy, and takes advantage of them to harm us.\"