Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat met EU consuls today and accused the Jewish state of escalating violence in the Middle East despite his own efforts to make peace.
"I am sorry to say that still the Israelis are escalating their military activities," he said in Ramallah, where he received the consuls from the 15 EU countries.
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Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat during his televised address to the nation. Photograph: Reuters
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He also accused Israel of ignoring the progress he was making in curbing violence in the Palestinian territories.
"There are operations on the ground but Israel is trying to brush them aside to continue its military escalation, its blockade and its aggression against the Muslim and Christian holy places," he said.
The meeting with the EU consuls took place in the West Bank town where Mr Arafat has been stranded since Israel blew up his helicopters in early December.
Diplomats said the consuls reiterated an EU statement earlier this week in which the union urged Israel not to undermine Mr Arafat's position, after a blistering series of air raids and tank forays targeting symbols of his power.
Israeli forces Monday shot dead three Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy, a day after Arafat issued an appeal for a halt to anti-Israeli attacks and for the Jewish state to end its "ferocious war" against the Palestinians.
AFP