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Arafat Calls For Iraqi Support Against Israel
BAGHDAD, March 8 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat urged Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to support Palestinians in their clashes with Israeli troops, the Iraqi News Agency INA reported on Thursday, MSNBC reports.
"The Palestinian people expect you [Iraq] to see with all the other brothers of the [Arab] nation to give it firm support and to help it put an end to the aggression, terrorism and genocide practiced by the Zionist entity," Arafat wrote in a message to Saddam Hussein.
In the strongly worded message, sent for the Muslim feast of Eid Al-Adha, Arafat wrote, "the Palestinian people are determined to pursue their march towards liberation and independence."
"The Zionist aggression ... is aimed at breaking the spirit of the resistance and struggle" of the Palestinians, Arafat said in his message, published by the official Iraqi News Agency.
He also called for applying the resolutions adopted by the Arab summits, particularly those concerning the financial support for the Palestinian uprising.
An Arab summit in Cairo on October 21st and 22nd set up a fund of $800 million for Jerusalem, and $200 million to help the families of the Palestinian victims of the clashes.
Saddam, whose country is strongly opposed to the Middle East peace process, called on Arab leaders this week to support the Intifada "to win the esteem of their peoples."
Iraq, although under a U.N. embargo since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, has been sending financial aid to families of Palestinian victims of clashes with Israel that broke out at the end of September.
Saddam promised 300 million euros last December (about $280 million now) to help the families of Palestinians killed or wounded in their uprising, and another 700 million euros to buy food and medicine for the Palestinians, MSNBC reports.
The Iraqi gift requires the approval of the 15-nation U.N. Security Council because the money would come from Iraqi oil sales made under the U.N. oil-for-food program. So far the council has not given its approval, it adds.
Iraq says it has also mobilized 6.6 million volunteers for the "liberation of Palestine."
Baghdad has sent cargoes of food and medicine, but they are blocked in Jordan as Israel has refused to let them in.
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