Sir, - We refer to Denyse Woods's letters (November 1st and 18th) and her statement that "if Mr. Netanyahu's Government had shown any willingness to abide" by the Oslo Accord that "tension in the area would not have been at fever pitch"
thereby implying that Israel was to blame for the recent troubles. Mr Arafat also managed to convey a similar impression when visiting Dublin recently, when he sought Irish Government pressure on Israel to keep its side of the Oslo Accord.
Perhaps we may be allowed to inform Ms Woods and your readers of some of the many Palestinian violations of the accord, which we trust Mr Spring and the other EU Foreign Ministers will not ignore on their forthcoming visit to Israel. These are:
Failure to change PLO Covenant: PLO was obligated to amend its National Covenant, which called for the destruction of Israel, by May 7th 1996 (Article 32(9)). On April 24th 1996, the PLO's National Council (PNC) approved an amendment in principle, yet the vote did not change the Covenant, but asked a PNC legal committee to draw up a new charter within six months. Six months have passed, and no changes have been made. By leaving the Covenant intact, the PLO sends a clear message that it has not accepted Israel's right to exist.
Incitement to terror: the PLO and PA are obliged to refrain from incitement to terrorism and prevent incitement by others (Articles 2,3b and 22). There have been many statements made by Yasser Arafat, Faisal Hussein and others, who called for jihad and praised those engaged in terrorism, including Hamas who continued carrying out mass murders after the Oslo Accord. PA also allows inflammatory speeches to be made, especially in mosques.
Abuse of human rights: the PA is obligated to fulfil its commitments "with due regard to internationally accepted principles of human rights" (Article 19). As noted by Amnesty International and some Palestinian organisations (eg Gaza Centre for Rights and Law), the PA's rule has been marked by arbitrary arrests, detention and torture. Press freedom has been curtailed.
PA Offices in East Jerusalem: PA offices were to be located in areas under the PA's jurisdiction, a provision meant to exclude Jerusalem (Article 1.7). Since May 1994, however, the PA has been operating more than six of its offices within Jerusalem e.g. Orient House.
Refusal to extradite terrorists: the PA is obliged to turn over to Israel those for whom an arrest warrant is provided (Article 2,7). Israel has requested 18 suspects in murder, none of whom has been handed over.
We believe it is vital that Mr Spring's visit to Israel be used to challenge Mr Arafat to answer the many serious violations by the PA and PLO of the Israeli/Palestinian Accords. Unless there is impartiality in looking at these accords, the Irish Government and the EU cannot hope to make a serious contribution to peace in the Middle East. Yours, etc., on behalf of Joe and Madeline Fleming, Veronica Flynn, Morgan McStay, Paddy Monaghen, Marie Sheridan (from Dublin), Brian Silvester and Florence Moore (from Belfast),
Christians Concerned for
Ireland, c/o 76 Quinn's Road,
Shankill, Co Dublin.