Text: Palestinian appeal for calm

Full text of the half-page advertisement signed by prominent Palestinians in al-Ayyam newspaper.

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We, the undersigned, Palestinians from various political, intellectual and social institutions, united in our struggle for freedom, emphatically condemn and denounce Israel's blatant aggression and deliberate provocation.

The cold-blooded murder of (the Hamas spiritual leader) Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his faithful companions by (Ariel) Sharon and his right-wing extremist government two days ago epitomises Israel's criminal and insidious behaviour.

While we assert our people's rights, guaranteed by all international covenants, to defend themselves by all means available and despite being filled with pain at the rising fatalities and continued suffering endured under the occupation, we call upon our people, for the sake of our national interest and in order to bring an end to the occupation, to repress their rage and rise once again in a widespread popular intifada, that is based on clear goals and constructive rhetoric, with the fate of our people steered by the masses.

Such an intifada would deny Sharon the opportunity to continue unleashing his assault against our people and would hinder his ability to impose his destructive agenda.

We call for the resurgence of a well-coordinated and disciplined intifada, with clear intentions and a political vision.

We confirm our commitment to pursuing our just and legitimate demands and rights.

We call for uniting ranks on grounds of national unity and a unified leadership that can effectively resist the occupation.

Enough assassination, enough of the occupation, stop the bloodshed.

The signatories:

Ibrahim al-Hafi ; Ibrahim Msallam ; Ahmad Jbara (Abul Sukkar); Ahmad Hallas (Abu Maher); Ahmad Fares ; As'ad Odeh ; Amin Maqboul ; Buthayna al-Duqmaq ; Jad Is'haq; Jamal Dar'awi ; Jamal Zaqqout ; Jamil Rushdi ; Jihad Abu Zneid; George Hazboun ; Hasan Dweik ; Hanan Ashrawi; Hakam Taleb Thyab; Haidar Awadallah ; Khader Ayesh; Khalil al-Atiri; Dimitri Diliani; Rihab al-Eisawi; Radwan al-Sameri; Riyad al-Malki; Zuheira Kamal ; Ziad Hammouri; Sari Nuseibeh; Saeed Zeidani; Salman Jadallah ; Sameer Shehadeh ; Siham Thabet; Suheil Saleem Abdul Fattah Salman; Shaher Sa'ed ; Shafiq Zaydieyeh; Shukri Radaydeh ; Salah Hikmat al-Masri ; Abbas Zaki ; Abdullah Hijazi; Abdullah al-Kiswani; Abdul Ilah al-Atiri; Abdul Fattah; Hamayel; Abdul Qader Faisal al-Husseini; Arafat al-Hidmi; Azzam al-Ahmad; Izzat al-Rasini; Ikrima Thabet; Imad Abu Kishek; Imad Awad ; Ali Hasasneh ; Anan al-Atiri; Ghazi Hanania ; Ghassan al-Harami; Ghassan Hanania ; Fathi Saleem Yasin Abu Zeid; Fadel Tahboub ; Fahed Abul Haj; Cairo Arafat; Lucy Nuseibeh ; Lilly Feidi; Mohammed al-Rimawi; Mohammed al-Sha'bi ; Mahmoud al-Aloul ; Mahmoud al-Labadi ; Naser Younes ; Nayef Sweitat ; Nour Eddin Ibrahim Shehadeh ; Hashem Abu Lafi; Yasser Abed Rabbo ; Yousef Harb; Yousef Aref.