Arafat says Israel 'tried to kill him'

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today claimed Israeli troops tried to kill him during a raid on his compound earlier this month.

“The Israelis committed massacres. They destroyed the offices and the compound and attempted to kill everyone in it,” Arafat told the Palestinian parliament.

But he said he was not afraid of death. “Welcome martyrdom, welcome martyrdom, welcome martyrdom,” he said.

Israel said that during its 10 day siege of Arafat’s compound it would not harm the Palestinian leader.

Troops destroyed nearly all the buildings in Arafat’s headquarters, demanding the handover of wanted men inside. The soldiers later withdrew after intense US pressure.

In the wide-ranging speech, Arafat reiterated his condemnation of attacks on civilians, be they Israelis or Palestinians. Arafat said attacks on Israelis undermine Palestinian statehood aspirations.

“The civilians, Israelis and Palestinians, they all have the right to live,” Arafat said. “We condemn any attacks against civilians anywhere in the world. These will not resolve political problems.”