A message from President Clinton to Arafat
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/26/1998

Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat on Tuesday received a message from US President Bill Clinton pertaining to the latest developments concerning Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the political efforts exerted to salvage them.

Israeli radio said the message was delivered by the US Middle East peace process coordinator Dennis Ross during his meeting with Arafat in Oslo. The meeting dealt with the status of peace negotiations and the impasse they have reached.

Meanwhile, Arafat considered the new Israeli proposals concerning the redeployment of the Israeli army as a start to reviving the stumbled negotiations between the Palestinian government and Israel.

Arafat was quoted as saying in Oslo that the new Israeli proposals concerning redeployment in the West Bank in return for which the Palestinian government has to take tougher security measures, against individuals who use violence for political ends, if members of the Palestinian police are permitted to move freely within areas dedicated to them.

Arafat avoided describing the Israeli proposals as a genuine breakthrough. He held the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu responsible for the stalemate in implementing items of Oslo accord and in perpetuating feud, violence and depression between the Palestinian government and Israel because of his anti-peace policy.

Arafat urged the US to reiterate the importance of Israel's commitment to the US initiative and the need for Israel's redeployment in Palestinian areas.

For his part, Ross noted "some progress" in reviving the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations following 18 months of stalemate.

Palestinian diplomatic sources in Cairo told ArabicNews.com that the Israeli - Palestinian communications for removing the obstacles facing the second-phase Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank resumed during the last few days, in which Ross and his deputy, Aaron Miller, participated.

The sources revealed signs that a Palestinian - Israeli agreement will be announced soon, and said the Israelis approved a withdrawal from 13% of the West Bank according to US proposal the Israeli government had previously failed to accept. The sources said that the adjustments that were made to the proposal persuaded Netanyahu to accept it.

Previous Stories:
  Netanyahu approves withdrawal from 13% of West Bank territories   (8/25/1998)
  Oslo anniversary: no reason to celebrate   (8/25/1998)
  Netanyahu aide: No permanent deal with Palestine, withdrawal from Syria's Golan possible   (8/21/1998)

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