Arafat accused of war crimes

Paris

Seven French relatives of Israelis killed by Palestinian suicide bombers filed a complaint against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a French court. They accused Arafat of genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, and criminal conspiracy, saying he personally masterminded a strategy of terrorism against Israelis. Supporters of the plaintiffs cited Palestinian Liberation Organization documents that call for the entire British mandate of Palestine—not just the occupied territories but all of Israel—to be returned to Palestinian Arab rule by any means. Palestinian spokesman Saeb Erekat called the accusations “baseless” and “part of a smear campaign.” A judge has yet to rule whether the case can be tried in French court.