Arafat calls on world community to prevent Iraq war

Ramallah, Mar 10: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today called on the international community to prevent a looming US attack on Iraq, saying such a conflict would spread insecurity throughout the Middle East.
"I am asking the international community to stop this coming war against our Iraqi brothers and give a real chance to the UN weapons inspectors to implement the decision of the Security Council," Arafat told the Palestinian Parliament.
"If this war goes ahead it will wreck the security of the whole region," he said, adding that Israel would exploit the opportunity to "implement its expansionist plans and the transfer of Palestinians."
Palestinians fear Israel will use the war to invade the Gaza Strip as it has done the West Bank, while the hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu, who now heads the finance ministry, has said it would be the ideal time to exile Arafat himself.
Bureau Report