Jibril Rajub: ‘We want Arafat’s murderers to be tried by an international tribunal’ - exclusive

Mr. Rajub is one of the Palestinian leaders and senior member of the Fatah party's Central Committee– the party founded by Arafat.

Mr. Rajub, I met with Arafat several times and saw that he was very ill in his last few years. During his illness you headed one of the Palestinian security services. So, who better than you to judge how appropriate the exhumation is? Is it really necessary?

- First of all, when Arafat was dying, I was no longer the head of special services...

I said “during his illness”, and he was seriously ill for the last few years before his death, wasn't he?

-No, I wasn’t at the time... Let me remind you that in 2002 I resigned the post of head of the Preventive Security Service on the West Bank of the Jordan. However, from 2003, I was again close to Yasser Arafat as his Advisor on security issues. But I assure you, it was just a political post. So I will answer your question as an ordinary Palestinian. We, the Palestinians, are interested in discovering the truth about who killed Arafat. The criminal must be named. It is well known who is accused of doing it: we suspect Israel. But we need proof. The purpose of the exhumation is to find that proof. I’ll tell you more: we want these criminals to be put in the dock. We want Arafat’s murderers to be tried by an international Tribunal.

Of course, it was not easy for us to dare to exhume the remains. This is a technically complex procedure, but, what is more important, it was difficult psychologically. It is important for us that several Russian experts are taking part in this procedure along with others. We requested this ourselves. We trust Russia, we trust Russian specialists, their participation gives us confidence and we hope that we will obtain the evidence needed to punish the principal accused - Israel.

But why are you so certain about accusing Israel? Couldn’t someone else have tried to poison Arafat?

- We proceed from the fact that Israel was more interested in getting rid of Arafat than any of the others. There is no denying that some Israeli leaders repeatedly made statements threatening to destroy him. In addition, the poison that killed Arafat is thought to have neem radioactive polonium, and only technologically advanced states have access to it.

It has been for many years now that you and your colleagues have fought for Palestinian independence. This week, on November 29, the Palestinian delegation will file an application for membership of the United Nations. Is it a random date taking into account that it was on November 29, 1947 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the partition of the British mandated Palestinian territory into two states: Jewish and Arab?

"No, it is not a coincidence. We chose this date about four months ago, as far as I remember, it was in July. A few dates were suggested to choose from. All of them were, one way or another, connected with certain historical events. For example, one other date was November 15, when in 1988, at a meeting in Algeria, the Palestinians in exile proclaimed the establishment of the Palestinian state. In the end, we chose November 29. At the same time, it is the International Day of Solidarity for the Palestinian people.

The Palestinians have now lowered the level of their demands and are not pressing for full United Nations membership, which is against the wishes of Israel and the United States, but for an intermediate status. What is the use of such a strange condition?

- We will at least get the full right to participate in UN activities. We will get a certain legal status, albeit an intermediate one. The main thing is that we will be able to submit complaints to international judicial authorities and launch legal proceedings against those who occupy our land and at the same time commit crimes. By submitting this application to the United Nations, the Palestinians apply for international protection.

In your opinion, how long will the current truce in the Gaza Strip last? Maybe only till the January parliamentary elections in Israel?

- This truce was concluded with guarantees from Egypt and the United States. So, I hope that this will work, and the truce will be protracted. In addition, recent statements made, for example, by Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, are encouraging too. He spoke not only about the truce, but also about the desire to achieve unity in Palestinian ranks. These are good signs.

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