LOC12:16
09:16 GMT
GAZA, Dec 26 (KUNA) -- The Palestine Liberation Organization condemned on
Sunday military attacks carried out by Israeli forces on Gaza Strip over the
past hours.
Israel, through its attacks and wide-scale settlement activities, is trying
to create a new de facto situation, with which the world should co-exist, said
Yasser Abed Rabbo, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO in remarks
to KUNA.
He was reacting to clashes that erupted southeast of the enclave, resulting
in the death of two Palestinians. The Israeli troops attacked with back-up of
gunship helicopters and the Palestinian fighters fought back with automatic
guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Such Israeli actions will aggravate the conditions "however we remain
committed to the basic principle that a settlement to the conflict should be
sought at the international quarters and the Security Council," he said.
Abed Rabbo re-affirmed that Israel must halt all settlement activities and
recognize the borders of June 1967 as the line separating Israel from a
neighboring Palestinian state. He also stressed that the aspired state should
be free of any Israeli presence, indicating that an understanding in this
respect had been reached with the Israelis and the sponsors of the peace
process, the Americans.
He denied knowledge of reports about alleged understandings reached between
the Israelis and the Americans regarding security precautions to be taken once
a Palestinian state has been proclaimed.
He also indicated that the Arab group at the UN Security Council would
resume efforts for securing a resolution against Israeli settlement schemes
following the new year holidays, and criticized the US for failing to deter
the Israeli aggression and check the unprecedented expansion of the
settlements on the Palestinian territories. (end)
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