(21 May 1997) English/Nat
The United States has condemned as "reprehensible" P-L-O leader Yasser Arafat's defence of the use of the death penalty against Palestinians who sell land to Jews.
The denunciation came as a former Palestinian land dealer was reported missing Wednesday, raising fears of a third killing in connection with the Palestinians' opposition to land transactions between Arabs and Israel.
Yasser Arafat called the death penalty a legitimate response to Israeli land confiscation.
The Palestinian leader says land always goes from the Arabs to the Jews -- and harsh punishment, he says, will stop that.
In a U-S State Department briefing Wednesday, spokesman Nicholas Burns said both the Israeli and Palestinian police are investigating the recent killings but added that the U-S couldn't comment on that matter.
Burns did say that the United States denounces any statements by the Palestinians defending murder for selling land.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The United States condemns any law or any decree that would threaten death against any Palestinian for selling land to Israelis or Jews. That's wrong; it's contrary to what must prevail in the Middle East, which is peace and the spirit of peace."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, U-S State Department spokesman
Burns said the U-S is puzzled as to why Arafat would make such statements, severely hindering any chance for peace.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We think it's very important to stand up for peace and the rule of law. Heaven knows, in the last 49 years, there has been enough bloodshed, enough political murders -- political assassinations on all sides. It's time for that to stop, and it's time for leaders to stand up for peace and to encourage their own population to follow the rule of law."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, State Department spokesman
Israel says it will complain to the U-N commission on human rights over the Palestinian Authority's decision to impose the death penalty over land transactions.
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