Quotes: Yasser Arafat

Here are some of the remarks made by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat over the years:

"Millions of martyrs will march on Jerusalem."

— Repeatedly to visiting groups during three years of confinement in the West Bank city of Ramallah, 2001-2004.

"These operations have given the Israeli government the excuse to reoccupy our land, killing hundreds of our innocent people and destroying all that we have built in the last eight years."

— June 19, 2002, explaining his call to end Palestinian suicide bombing attacks.

"I repeat here my full commitment and my readiness to participate with the U.S. administration and the international community in their war against terrorism."

— May 8, 2002, in a televised address.

"We were the first revolution to enter and force our way into the United Nations. You are a people of might and no one can erase our presence from this Palestinian land. Yes, this is Palestinian land, and we are here until Judgment Day."

— Feb. 12, 1998, speech to his people.

"This award, which is of ultimate significance and gesture, was not granted to me and my two partners, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel, and Mr. Shimon Peres, the foreign minister, ... to crown an endeavor that we have completed but rather to encourage us to continue a road which we have started."

— Dec. 10, 1994 in Oslo, accepting Nobel Peace Prize.

"My people are hoping that this agreement which we are signing today marks the beginning of the end of a chapter of pain and suffering which has lasted throughout this century."

— Sept. 13, 1993, at interim Israel-Palestinian peace accord signing ceremony at White House.

"We totally and absolutely renounce all forms of terrorism, including individual, group and state terrorism."

— Dec. 14, 1988 in Geneva, accepting U.N. Security Council resolutions recognizing Israel.

"Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

— Nov. 13, 1974, speech to U.N. General Assembly.

"As long as the world saw the Palestinians as no more than refugees standing in line for U.N. rations, it wasn't likely to respect them. Now that the Palestinians carry rifles, the situation has changed."

— 1968 interview.