Palestinians Open Office in Japan, Slam Bush

September 24, 2003

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority opened a permanent mission in Japan on Wednesday, with its representative criticizing President Bush for condemning the Palestinian leadership of Yasser Arafat.

Bush told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that the Palestinian leadership had clung to power by "feeding old hatreds and destroying the good work of others," although he did not mention Arafat by name.

He has previously said that plans for a Palestinian state hinged on finding new leaders committed to fighting terrorism.

Waleed Siam, head of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan, said it was strange that the United States, while advocating democracy, could seek to undermine Arafat, who was elected democratically. "The Bush administration has, since the beginning, called for democracy in the Arab world. Unfortunately, what they have preached they don't teach," he told a news conference.

Bush on Monday lamented that few countries had joined the United States in seeking to sideline Arafat, whom Washington blames for stalling a U.S.-backed peace initiative, calling him a "failed president."

The United States has warned Israel against carrying out its threat to expel -- or even kill -- Arafat.

Siam added: "President Arafat is our elected president, and no other country in the world has the right to change him, or assassinate him, or exile him, or even remove him.

"He is representative and chosen by the Palestinian people, and he will remain the president of Palestine," he said. "We will not accept any mingling in our internal politics."

The Palestinians previously had an office in Tokyo but closed it in 1993 for a variety of reasons, including financial pressures.ntact Us | Editorial Feedback

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