EU warns Israel not to launch an assault on Yasser Arafat`s compound in Ramallah

Excite ^ | April 21, 2002 | Reuters

[Democrats are liars]

MADRID (Reuters) - The European Union has warned Israel not to assault Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters and called for a peaceful solution to a standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

In a statement issued by EU president Spain, the 15-nation bloc issued "a serious warning against any act of force carried out against the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which could endanger the physical security of President Arafat and the (other) people there."

The statement, published on Spain's EU presidency Web site on Sunday, carried Saturday's date.

The EU also said it was ready to help find a legal solution "to the question of the people detained by the Palestinian Authority who are inside the Palestinian presidential complex" -- a reference to suspects that Israel wants handed over.

The EU requested that medical and humanitarian organizations be allowed immediate access to Palestinian towns and it stressed the importance of a United Nations mission to probe Israel's assault on the Jenin refugee camp.

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Friday for a fact-finding mission on the devastation in Jenin.

Israeli tanks rumbled out of two West Bank cities on Sunday after a crushing three-week occupation but kept up sieges of Arafat's headquarters and the Bethlehem church, one of Christianity's holiest sites, where gunmen are holed up.

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israeli forces would stay outside Arafat's compound until three men accused of killing an Israeli cabinet minister last year were turned over.

Israel also wants the handover of Arafat's chief financial officer, Fuad Shubaki, whom it suspects of trying to smuggle arms from Iran into the Palestinian territories.

Arafat has offered to put Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi's suspected assassins on trial in a Palestinian court.

The EU asked "all parties involved to do everything necessary to find a peaceful outcome to the siege of the Church of the Nativity" in Bethlehem.

Israeli troops remain locked in a stalemate with wanted Palestinian militants trapped with more than 200 policemen, clerics and civilians inside the church, revered as the birthplace of Jesus.

Spain hosts a meeting in Valencia this week of foreign ministers from EU and Mediterranean states, which Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is expected to attend.

[Democrats are liars]

Screw the EU!

[OldFriend]

Ditto

[StriperSniper]

Arafat has offered to put Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi's suspected assassins on trial in a Palestinian court.

Too late.

[crystalk]

If the EU had existed 57 years ago this week, it would have warned Russia against any assault upon the Fuhrerbunker in Berlin and would have called for immediate negotiations with Chancellor Hitler to restore the Third Reich.

[shaggy eel]

,,, why can't the EU act this coherently to get it's own house in order?

[Clara Lou]

Arafat has offered to put Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi's suspected assassins on trial in a Palestinian court.
This never would have been acceptable-- just more of Arafat's crappo.

[Diogenesis]

The EU is unconcerned about protecting African children from Arab slavers.

The EU is unconcerned about assaults on Jews and Americans in Europe.

The EU is unconcerned about Mad Cow disease which they created and is spreading worldwide.

What they ARE CONCERNED ABOUT is protecting their source of terrorist spittle.

They enjoy partaking in Arafat passing his illness (retrovirus,?Mad Cow Disease) to EU officials and Annan

who regard it an honor to drink sputum from the mouth of terrorist Arafat.

---

[KQQL]

where was EU when 6 million jews were killed ? They sure worried about the terrorist YASSERRRRRRRRRRRR

[Faraday]

The European Union has warned Israel not to assault Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters

Or what? They'll cut off the crepes?

[TomGuy]

In a statement issued by EU president Spain, the 15-nation bloc issued "a serious warning against any act of force carried out against the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which could endanger the physical security of President Arafat and the (other) people there."

Hmmm...wonder what the EU would do if Sharon did "endanger the physical security of President Arafat and the (other) people there"? Bets are, they'd cry to the UN and protest to the US.

[Clara Lou]

,,, why can't the EU act this coherently to get it's own house in order?
Sorry...way too much to hope for.

[rintense]

Exactly. A case of PKB... Pot Kettle Black.

[aimhigh]

Or what? They'll cut off the crepes?

No, they'll whine and whine and whine some more.

[The Real Deal]

I'm sick of the EU. I think they a suffering from some kind of mental problem. What a bunch of wimps. What do they think they are going to do? They can always say, "Were really mad now!" Then we can all have a big laugh!!!!!!

[Grendelgrey]

..I have no love for the IRA but in order to remain consistant wont the EU(EEEEEWWWWW) call for the UK to stop its occupation of Northern Ireland and withdraw now?

I'm betting this policy is based on fear of bombing attacks within Europe propper by the large muslim communities spread around in various large cities. We won't ever hear them admit ,but fear and complacency go a long way towards sheepish diplomacy. Neville Chamberlain would approve.

[A Navy Vet]

I love this word: Euroweenies!

[widgysoft]

hmmmm, how many times have they said that in past few weeks?
Next time they might mean it(scary eh?)!! But instead they'll have a "discussion" on how to complain some more.

[TomGuy]

fear of bombing attacks within Europe propper by the large muslim communities

Europe has its own Muslim problem. There was an article published on FR a few weeks ago that said Euros' big fear is the Muslim situation (I couldn't find that particular article in search, but some related ones are linked below:)

Fear of Muslims benefits Europe's rightists (Socialist govts losing power across Western Europe)

Europe Feels Shockwaves From Middle East Conflict

[jocko12]

GO FOR ARAFAT ISRAEL.THE EU HAS ALREADY GAVE UP!!!!