Settlement could be reached before Clinton's departure from White House
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2000

Egypt's President Mubarak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat reviewed the latest developments in the light of the Palestinian-Israeli contacts in Washington which are aimed at reaching a final solution.

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has expressed Egypt's interest in reaching a just settlement in the framework of international legitimacy. He said minimum and maximum limits of an acceptable settlement is something which concerns Palestinians alone.

Emerging from the 90-minute talks which were held at the Presidential palace, Arafat said he listened to President Mubarak's advice regarding underway developments. He added that he briefed President Mubarak on the sustained Israeli attacks against Palestinian territories and progress of underway contacts in Washington.

Answering a question on reports saying that there were suggestions for giving Palestinians sovereignty over Al-Haram Al-Sharif in return for ceding the right of refugees to return, President Arafat said this rights should not be ceded.

He said his visit to Washington for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak depends on the results of underway negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations in Washington.

Foreign Minster Amr Moussa said talks between Mubarak and Arafat focussed on Middle East developments and underway contacts in Washington.

After Mubarak-Arafat talks, Moussa said the two sides are following together the current developments and whether there is a change for the better as regards the implementation of Sharm El-Sheikh Agreements.

Sharm El-Sheikh Agreements stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the pre-September 28 lines and the reduction of tension in the Palestinian lands.

"This stage is in reality a state of follow-up and consultations," Moussa said, adding there is nothing new to be said.

Moussa explained the talks go beyond implementing Sharm E1-Sheikh Agreements to trying to see whether reaching a final settlement within the coming few weeks is possible or not. "The ongoing contacts in Washington would reveal the possibility of that," he said.

Answering a query on the minimum the Arabs could accept, Moussa said that there was not a minimum level of expectations but rather the Arabs wanted to ensure that their rights were guaranteed, then, hope or progress would be there.

"The minimum and maximum lines are left for the Palestinian party to set because it is the owner of the land and the rights," Moussa added noting that Egypt is interested in having a fair settlement within the context of international legitimacy but the details are in the hands of Palestinians.

On the possibility of making a progress in the few coming weeks before the US President Bill Clinton ends ,his term in office, Moussa expected that there was a possibility if the political will and intention would go for making progress. Otherwise, there would be no progress in three weeks for even three months.

On what Israel's Opposition Leader Ariel Sharon's announcemend that if he was chosen as Prime Minister, he would not comply with any deal reached between Barak and the Palestinians, Moussa said that Sharon was free to make whatever he wanted and if Sharon took power, we would deal with the situation according to the given of the situation.

Previous Stories:
  Barak: Washington meeting aim at halting Intifada; Israel strikes Palestinians cities   (12/20/2000)
  Three Palestinians were killed on Monday's confrontations   (12/19/2000)
  Four Palestinians killed on Sunday's confrontations with the Israelis   (12/18/2000)

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