Arafat welcomes call for immediate ceasefire

Yasser Arafat today said he welcomes a US-backed call for an immediate ceasefire with Israel, but stopped short of committing to steps the Palestinians would be required to take ahead of such a truce.

In a speech marking the anniversary of the 1965 founding of his Fatah group, Arafat also suggested growing tensions over Iraq could make the Palestinians more vulnerable to Israeli military offensives.

“The ghost of war which is hovering over the Middle East today represents a good chance for the Israeli government and its occupation forces to continue its destructive war against our Palestinian people,” he said.

In Gaza City, tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered in the main square to mark the anniversary, with participants chanting “Arafat, Arafat” as his speech was played over loudspeakers.

It was one of the largest gatherings since the Palestinian leader returned from exile in 1994 as part of interim peace agreements.

Israel accuses Arafat of doing nothing to stop Palestinian militias and even encouraging bombing and shooting attacks against Israelis.

US President George Bush has said the Palestinians must replace their leader if they want to establish a state.

But UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that Arafat must not be sidelined.

“I know the Israeli position ... but you also know the position of the vast majority of the international community that until there is a new leader, since he is the only elected leader, we have to deal with him,” Annan told Israel Army Radio by telephone from New York.