Arafat says Israel plans will make Gaza a "prison" [View All]

[Scurrilous]

http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4867518

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"Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Monday rejected Israel's plan to quit the Gaza Strip as a sham that would turn it into "a big prison".

Palestinian leaders initially gave a cautious welcome to the possibility of Israeli soldiers and settlers leaving the coastal strip, despite suspicions that the Gaza withdrawal plan was an Israeli ruse to strengthen its hold on the West Bank.

But after studying the details of the initiative, including Israel's intention to control Gaza's borders, air space and coastal waters, Arafat and the Palestinian leadership issued a statement slamming the plan as unacceptable.

"What is proposed is transforming Gaza Strip into a big prison and maintaining Israel's control (over it)," the Palestinian leadership said."