The Palestinians In Their Own Words

Palestinian Quote Sheet #41

On violence over Jerusalem:

"If Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decides to build in Har Homa this will be a declaration of war on the Palestinians."

--- Palestinian Authority Minister Faisal Husseini regarding Israel's decision to build a new Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem's Har Homa section. (Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, 18 February 1997)

"No doubt there will be an explosion."

--- Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Abu Ala on the Arab response if Har Homa is built. (BBC World Service Radio, 17 February 1997, 2040 GMT)

On negotiations over Jerusalem:

"Not East nor West -- Jerusalem, the whole of Jerusalem."

--- The areas of Jerusalem to be negotiated between Israel and the PLO, according to Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Abu Ala. (BBC World Service Radio, 17 February 1997, 2040 GMT)

On violence over settlements:

"From now on, resisting settlements will not be through words, condemnation or complaints to the U.N. Security Council."

--- Palestinian Authority cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdel Rahman, saying that the time is past for passive resistance to Israel's settlement policy. (The Washington Post, 10 March 1997)

"First of all, the Palestinians do not have their backs to the wall. They are the ones who created an intifadah and who faced the Israelis when a tunnel was opened under the al-Aqsa Mosque.

"Faced with these continuing acts of aggression against the land, the Palestinians have no option but to stand up and offer their blood and souls in defense of their land, which is being expropriated and on which settlements are being built."

--- Palestinian Authority cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdel Rahman (London-based MBC-TV, 15 February 1997)

To Quote Sheet #40 | To a text file of all quote sheets | To Quote Sheet #42

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