ARAFAT MEETS WITH ISRAEL'S PRESIDENT.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. With Palestinian negotiators back at the table after walking off in anger, Yasser Arafat made his first public visit to Israel on Tuesday and pledged to keep his police from firing again on Israeli soldiers. Sitting in garden chairs on the terrace of President Ezer Weiz-man's villa, Arafat and Weizman traded compliments, shook hands for the cameras and agreed there was no alternative to peace. The cozy exchange capped Arafat's transformation in two years from Israel's arch foe to its most important peace partner. Tuesday's meeting came less than two weeks after deadly gun battles between Israeli and Palestinian security forces Palestinian Security Forces provides security to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The PNF consists of:
The cordial luncheon and Arafat's promises contrasted sharply with the deep discord evident to the south, at Israeli Palestinian peace talks on Israel's border with Gaza. On Monday, Palestinian negotiators balked balk v. balked, balk·ing, balks v.intr. 1. To stop short and refuse to go on: The horse balked at the jump. 2. at Israeli demands for improved security arrangements for Jewish settlers in the West Bank town of Hebron, where an Israeli troop pullout pull·out n. 1. A withdrawal, especially of troops. 2. Change from a dive to level flight. Used of an aircraft. 3. An object designed to be pulled out. Noun 1. is long overdue. Only the intervention of U.S. envoy Dennis Ross Dennis B. Ross is an American author and political figure who served as the director for policy planning in the State Department under President George H.W. Bush and special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton. brought the Palestinians back to the table that night. Israel said it wanted to retain the right of ``hot pursuit'' of suspected Palestinian assailants into areas that will come under Palestinian control in Hebron. Israel also wants to retain control over a broader area that links the Jewish enclaves with the Tomb of the Patriarchs, a site in the center of town that is holy to both Muslims and Jews. Even considering the Israeli demands would be tantamount to renegotiating the terms of peace agreements signed with Israel's previous government, said Ibrahim Kreishe, a senior Palestinian negotiator.` |
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