Arafat leaves compound to tour Ramallah

Arafat is greeted by supporters after emerging from his headquarters in Ramallah.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat left his compound Thursday to tour the damage in Ramallah Thursday, a day after Israel lifted a monthlong siege around his compound in the West Bank city.

Crowds of people cheered in support of Arafat as he emerged, smiling and chanting along with his supporters.

Flanked by officials, he made his way through the crowd into a motorcade to begin his first tour of Ramallah in over a month.

The withdrawal from Arafat's compound hinged on the transfer of six prisoners, who were holed up in the compound with Arafat and wanted by Israel. The six were transferred to a Palestinian jail in Jericho and will be under U.S. and British supervision.

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The Israeli blockade of the compound was part of an aggressive Israeli military operation into the West Bank that followed a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks on Israeli civilians.

During his tour, Arafat visited people wounded in the Israeli incursion, including some of his own bodyguards, in a Ramallah hospital. He also paid respects at a grave for people killed during the military operation, where he led the group in prayer.

Arafat then visited the Ministry of Education, where he was greeted by schoolchildren waving Palestinian flags and holding pictures of the Palestinian leader.

Arafat said that traveling aboard is not his first priority, although aides have said he may go to Cair, Egypt, to consult with Arab leaders.

Arafat was to address Ramallah residents during a rally in support of his decision to hand over the six prisoners.

Hours earlier, with the siege newly over, Arafat had turned his attention to the continued Israeli-Palestinian standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

"What is important now is this big crime which has happened against this holy sacred place for the Muslims, for the Christians -- the Nativity Church," Arafat told CNN's Matthew Chance Wednesday night.

Throughout his confinement, Arafat has occasionally spoken to reporters and camera crews who managed to slip into the compound despite the Israeli military presence there. A number of diplomats and government representatives made official visits there, and Arafat offered thanks and praise for their efforts.

Arafat specifically named U.S. President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. He also thanked the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.

Arafat said the "barbarian activities" of the Israeli army are only "increasing" attacks by Palestinian militant groups. Asked what he would tell such groups now that he is free to move about, the chairman said he would remind them not to forget "the peace of the brave."

"I can't forget myself, the peace of the brave, which I had signed with my partner, [assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin," Arafat said.

"We the Palestinians cannot forget, and we have to follow up with all our power," he continued. "I believe that if there is a will, there is a way. And not to forget that the majority of the Israeli people are with the peace of the brave."