Palestinians 'enraged' by Sharm el-Sheikh agreement

Ashrawi

Underlying causes of confrontation not addressed, legislator says

CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- A Palestinian legislator said Tuesday that the Palestinians were "enraged" about an agreement reached in Egypt to end nearly three weeks of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, calling the U.S.-brokered agreement nothing more than "Band-Aid diplomacy."

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat left Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, at the conclusion of the emergency Mideast summit held there without speaking to journalists. But Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi told CNN's Jerrold Kessel that her people believe Arafat made the agreement "under duress."

VIDEO Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi comments by phone at the summit's conclusion (October 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Barak holds a news conference after the summit (October 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace     RESOURCES Mideast struggle for peace

"The Palestinians are really enraged," Ashrawi said. "They feel that this type of achievement was achieved under duress ... under unfair and tremendous pressure on Arafat motivated by his need to save lives."

"Palestinian public opinion is that the real causes of this latest confrontation have not been addressed and this is once again a Band-Aid diplomacy," she said.

Ashrawi said the real test of the agreement rests in how it is implemented by the Israelis.

"If Israel decides to have a genuine qualitative shift from its attitude as occupier, from its measures on the ground ... then we might begin to see a change of atmosphere," she said.

Ashrawi disputed concerns that Arafat's standing with his people would somehow be diminished after the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, saying instead that the Palestinians would be judging Israeli actions and that "the future of peace" would be at stake.

"The Palestinians are still going to funerals, still mourning the victims who have been killed by the Israelis," she said. "There is a state of disbelief and of shock and a state of refusing to succumb to the Israeli will."

More Mideast talks planned for Tuesday
October 16, 2000
Fresh shadows hang over Mideast summit
October 16, 2000
Emergency Mideast summit likely, U.S. officials say
October 13, 2000
Annan claims breakthrough in Mideast diplomacy
October 11, 2000
U.N. leader improves hopes for resolving Mideast crisis
October 10, 2000
Barak lifts deadline on Palestinians; says he'll attend U.S.-hosted summit if called
October 9, 2000

RACHEL'S TOMB
Israel Defense Forces
Addameer: Palestinian Human Rights Association
  • Clashes Information Center
Palestinian State Information Service
Live Western Wall Camera at Aish
Palestinian National Authority Home Page
The Israeli Government's Official Web site
About the West Bank
Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees
U.S. State Department

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.