Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinians, spoke on Thursday via his mobile phone to an Episcopal cathedral in Egypt, which was bustling with churchgoers, stating that Israel's actions in occupying Palestinian cities have crossed all boundaries. Mr. Arafat was speaking from his office complex in Ramallah, which has been under siege by Israeli forces for the past two weeks. He described the Israeli invasion as an assault against Palestinian women, children, churches, and mosques. The Palestinian leader deemed Israel's siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem a crime. Armed Palestinian men have been positioned inside this holy church for over a week, clashing with Israeli forces stationed outside. While Mr. Arafat spoke on the phone to the Egyptian church, at least two thousand people in Cairo were listening to his words. Senior Islamic and Christian clerics in Egypt have expressed their support for Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian struggle.
Yasser Arafat Speaks via Mobile Phone to a Church in Egypt - 2002-04-12
Yasser Arafat addressed an Egyptian church via mobile phone, condemning Israel's occupation of Palestinian cities and its siege of the Church of the Nativity. His remarks were heard by thousands in Cairo, with support from Egyptian religious leaders. This highlights ongoing tensions and solidarity among Arab nations regarding the Palestinian cause.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Yasser Arafat addressed an Episcopal cathedral in Egypt via mobile phone, condemning Israeli actions against Palestinians and the siege of the Church of the Nativity. His speech was broadcast to thousands, garnering support from Egyptian religious leaders.
- Arafat spoke from Ramallah, which was under siege by Israeli forces.
- The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was occupied by armed Palestinians, leading to clashes with Israeli forces.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a longstanding issue, with significant violence and political strife affecting both communities. The Second Intifada marked a critical escalation in this conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%