Maher confers with Arafat
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/13/2002

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher on Friday started his meeting with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority yasser Arafat in Ramullah, the West Bank.

Just a little time before the meeting Maher arrived in Ramullah in a visit came just comes one day before the meeting to be held between the US secretary of state Colin Powell ( the meeting was later postponed until Sunday) with Arafat. The state department said yesterday Powell might meet Arafat later, "as circumstances permit."

On the other hand, an Israeli diplomatic source said that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon permitted Maher to meet with Arafat in order to enable success for Powell's mission.

The Israeli mass media said that Sharon usually refuses such visits ( to Arafat) but Powell had encouraged him to change his mind.

One Israeli analyst said that Sharon's approval of the meeting between Maher and Arafat is the cheapest price the Israeli prime minister was ready to pay during the visit held by the US secretary of state, noting that this decision (permitting Maher to meet with Arafat) is easier for Sharon than pulling out the Israeli tanks from the Palestinian territories.

Previous Stories:
  Israel: Maher cancels a visit to meet with Arafat   (4/12/2002)
  Israel: Maher cancels a visit to meet with Arafat   (4/12/2002)
  Waves of anger in People's Assembly against Israel   (4/10/2002)
  Waves of anger in People's Assembly against Israel   (4/10/2002)
  Pope Shenouda lauds Mubarak peace efforts   (4/9/2002)
  Pope Shenouda lauds Mubarak peace efforts   (4/9/2002)

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