Palestinian Authority Chairman Yassir Arafat sent a greeting to Israeli President Moshe Katzav on the occasion of the Jewish New Year festival which starts on Friday.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Arafat sent the message on behalf of the Palestinian people and leadership, stating that the chairman personally sends the Jewish people in Israel his genuine greetings and warm blessings.
WAFA cited the entire message which called on the Israeli people for peace and tolerance. “On this occasion we ask of Allah that he helps us together in our genuine and dedicated work to establish and build a basis for a real, complete and continuous peace” said the Chairman, “and to achieve the historic reconciliation for which the neighboring people, the Israelis and the Palestinians, yearn.”
“We have both had many difficult and painful years, and any one of us devoted to the future of his children will cry ‘stop’!” he wrote. The two nations must start a new era without terror, violence, killing, demolition of homes, uprooting trees and without occupation, concluded Arafat, but rather start an episode of coexistence, cooperation and construction.
“May the new year be the start of a new era, one of quiet and stability, security and peace,” said Arafat.