Arafat to Ask Parliament to Ban Suicide Bombings
Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat will ask his parliament to outlaw suicide bombings and reaffirm a commitment to peace with Israel, according to a draft copy of a speech he is to deliver today.
The draft says the world is waiting for a clear signal that the Palestinians see peaceful negotiations as the way to resolve their dispute.
It calls for formal recognition of Israel as a state.
The speech also argues that bomb attacks gave Israel justification for harsh retaliation.
Meanwhile, violence continued. Palestinian officials said Israeli tanks killed two people in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, as Israeli forces encircled three refugee camps.
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