55 Palestinian public figures appeal for halt to suicide bombings [inside
Green Line- would not apply to the 2 attacks in Jerusalem]

By DPA - Ha'aretz website 19 June 2002

[IMRA: Israel Television Channel One's Mabat evening news program noted
that the ad, that was paid for by the European Union, opposed suicide
bombings against civilians within the '67 Green Line and that the most
recent bloody suicide attacks in Jerusalem on Tuesday and today took place
beyond the Green Line and thus are not covered by the ad.]

In a unique document published Wednesday, some 55 Palestinian officials,
academics, writers and community leaders appealed to Palestinian militant
groups to end their suicide attacks against Israel as soon as possible.

"We appeal to those who stand behind the military operations to rethink and
reconsider these actions, and to stop sending young men to carry out such
attacks targeting civilians in Israel," said the document, published in the
Al-Quds Palestinian daily.

Most prominent among the figures who signed the appeal were legislator Hanan
Ashrawi and Sari Nusseibeh, the PLO's ranking official in Jerusalem.

"We signed this appeal out of our national responsibilities and to avoid the
threats that surround our people," the full-page advertisement said.

"We do not see any benefit from such attacks, except to widen the chasm of
hatred between the two peoples."

The appeal was published the day after a Palestinian suicide bomber blew
himself up on a crowded Jerusalem bus, killing 19 people and wounding 70
others.

The Islamic fundamentalist Hamas movement claimed responsibility for the
bombing, while the Palestinian Authority condemned it, as did most of the
international community.

A poll published last week by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center
found that two-thirds of the Palestinians (68.1 per cent) support the
suicide bombings.

The authors of Wednesday's appeal said they did not believe such attacks
would "lead the Palestinian people to freedom and independence," but would
instead "increase the number of countries supporting the Israeli occupation
against the Palestinian people".

They said in the appeal that such attacks are a "gift" to Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon and the extreme right in Israel "to continue their aggression
and attacks against the Palestinian people."