Palestinians propose to move negotiations with Israel to Taba
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/20/2001

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat held a tete-a-tete talks in Cairo yesterday.

Arafat arrived in Cairo on Wednesday and met with Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami.

Arafat said that his talks with President Mubarak were positive and constructive, noting that the talks centered on means to deal with the new U.S. Administration and the obstacles hindering the peace.

Arafat voiced hope the Bush Administration would halt Israel's military escalation against the Palestinian people urging the Arab countries to swiftly extend financial support to the two funds of Al-Quds and Intifada.

Arafat, in statements to the reporters after his meeting with Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Maguid at League Headquarters yesterday, said we would wait to know Bush Administration's main axes.

Arafat said that he proposed removing the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations to Taba, Egypt.

Arafat said that he informed Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, during their talks in Cairo last Wednesday, of his proposal to move the negotiations to Taba, noting that Ben-Ami told him that the Israeli government would probe his proposal.

Taba was a unique venue for both the Palestinian-Israeli sides during the era of late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.

The Palestinian leadership is exerting all its efforts to commit to what has been agreed upon in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Arafat voiced hope that Israel would commit itself to accurate and honest implementation of the agreements and understandings reached in Sharm El-Sheikh conferences.

Arafat regretted Israel's failure to honour its commitments, in view of the continued siege of Palestinian cities and villages and the military escalation against the Palestinian people.

On the statements made by Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami in which he proposed for holding marathon negotiations before the Israeli elections, Arafat, expressed readiness to do so, adding that the two peace sponsors, the US and Russia, had already been notified of this.

Previous Stories:
  US proposals, peace process discussed   (1/18/2001)
  Palestinians never give up sovereignty over Jerusalem   (1/15/2001)
  Mubarak-Arafat review attempts to save peace process   (1/13/2001)

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