3-way Arafat, Clinton - Netanyahu meeting ruled out
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/5/1998

Palestinian officials refused to comment directly on Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy's resignation and said the whole matter is an internal Israeli affair and that they would like to keep themselves away from meddling into Israeli domestic affairs.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, flanked by his top aide Saeb Erekat and his advisor on Israeli affairs, Ahmad Tibi, said in Jericho that Levy's resignation is an internal affair in Israel but expressed worries that the minister who supported the Oslo Accords and characterized the moderate trend within the Israeli government is going away. "We are sorry to see that someone who supported Oslo Agreements is leaving and we are afraid that the present government will become more radical and extreme," Arafat told reporters in Jericho minutes after Levy's press conference, which he watched live on Israel TV.

"I cannot see anything that can convince me to change my views. The government policy does not meet my views and my conclusion is to resign and I will send my letter of resignation to the prime minister right after this press conference. I am not a member in this government anymore," said Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy as he reiterated on Sunday afternoon his decision to resign from the present government of Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Israeli government law, the resignation goes into effect 48 hours after it is presented and it seems that only a miracle can keep Levy in the government after a series of threats in the past in which he said he would resign but backed down in the eleventh hour.

Immediately after Levy announced his resignation, speculations increased that early elections in Israel seem to be inevitable this year and Levy himself avoided speaking about any future scenarios, keeping his planned steps under the lid. Yet he noted that he has not cut any secret deal with opposition Labor Party leader Ehud Barak.

Despite the current government crisis, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross is expected to arrive in the region on Tuesday against the wish of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who had requested a recess in the peace efforts until after his cabinet crisis is solved. US Administration officials had reportedly rejected his approach. Netanyahu is due to meet US President Bill Clinton in Washington on the 20th of this month, should Ross's mission bear some fruits. The US is reportedly pressing forward to resume the peace talks, arguing that Israel¹s domestic squabbles ought not to be allowed to further derail the peace process.

Meanwhile, Israel¹s media is rife with speculation about what Israel could be committed to and the state-run television reported Friday night that the US National Security Council had released a memorandum that apparently assumes that Netanyahu had already promised US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright a second phase pull-out of between 10-15 percent in the West Bank. But in statements attributed to Ross, he denied the report and said it was groundless.

Speculations in Israel show that the government ministers could be divided as to whether or not they will have to come up with a final decision on the second phase prior to the prime minister¹s upcoming discussions with Ross and President Clinton. National Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister David Levy reportedly want to reach this decision now, hoping that adopting a stand prior to Netanyahu's trip to Washington would avert the Israeli government from US pressure that might be intriguing to the Arab parties who are demanding more of Israel.

Israel's leading daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot's correspondent in Washington reported on Sunday that the US has a motive behind the current trip by Ross to the region and that is to keep government moderate David Levy from quitting. By today, Monday, Netanyahu will have his last chance to solve his crisis with Levy before the 1998 budget comes to the Knesset for vote. Israeli sources said that Netanyahu and his finance minister Yaacov Neeman are arguing over the source of funding for Levy¹s prime causes, including development towns and the homeless. Netanyahu wants to raise health taxes. Neeman wants to cut more from ministry budgets. Finance ministry officials, meanwhile, believe the showdown between the two could lead to Neeman¹s resignation.

Palestinian official sources confirmed, meanwhile, that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will be leaving to Washington for a meeting with President Clinton on January 22. They ruled out, however, the chance of holding a three-way summit meeting between Albright, Arafat and Netanyahu. "Another three-way summit involving President Clinton with President Arafat and Netanyahu is totally out of question, unless Netanyahu comes forward with tangible proposals to move the peace process forward and meets Palestinian demands for the implementation of the outstanding articles of the interim agreements between the two sides," said a senior aide to Arafat on Sunday. He said President Arafat will press for Palestinian demands to be met by Israel and will stress that the implementation of the interim agreements is the only means for not only the Palestinians but also for the US Administration to test Netanyahu's real intentions.

Israeli sources, however, expressed doubt whether it would be possible for the Israeli government to complete its discussion about the second phase redeployment and final status negotiations with the Palestinians prior to Netanyahu's trip to Washington later this month.

Previous Stories:
  Netanyahu's government is falling   (1/5/1998)
  Arafat for international observers, will reshuffle cabinet in late January   (12/30/1997)
  The racist who wanted to throw a pig's head into Al Aqsa mosque   (12/29/1997)

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