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Arafat Wants Truce With Israel During Athens Games

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called for a ceasefire with Israel during the Athens 2004 Games. He made the call at a lighting ceremony for a symbolic Olympic torch at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Israel has dismissed the offer calling it insincere.

Arafat said at the lighting ceremony, “on the occasion of lighting the Palestinian Olympic torch, I declare our respect and commitment for an Olympic truce, which I signed in my besieged office”. Israel has confined Arafat to his compound for more than two years.

He added, “we hope that the revival of the ancient noble Greek tradition will help in creating a world that enjoys peace, justice and security for the coming generation”.

In dismissing Arafat’s offer a senior Israeli official accused him of being behind the killings of Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The official said, “Arafat’s Olympic torch is a torch of death. There is a big difference between what Arafat says and what he does”.

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