Arafat pledges to use only peaceful means to settle disputes with Israel
Palestine-Israel-Germany, Politics, 11/18/1998

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat pledged on Tuesday that his government will only use peaceful means to settle its disputes with Israel. In a press conference he held in Jericho on Tuesday following a meeting with German President Roman Herzog, Arafat added, "Peace is the strategic option for the Palestinians."

Today, the Israeli Knesset ratified the Wye Plantation accord by a large majority, which allows an Israeli withdrawal from more lands in the West Bank. The opposition Labor Party jointed the government in supporting the accord.

Also today, Palestinian negotiator Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon. The Israeli Foreign Ministry's spokesman said that they discussed the subject of the final status agreement and said that the two sides will meet again soon.

However the Knesset approval followed an Israeli decision to delay a Cabinet meeting planned for today which was to approve the implementation of the first Israeli obligations under the Wye River accord.

An Israeli spokesman said that this delay aims at granting the Palestinian government the necessary time to issue legislation that aims barring anti-Israeli incitement and publish a plan to confiscate unlicensed weapons.

Arafat said yesterday that problems relating to final status negotiations will be sorted out by amicable and peaceful means and through negotiations rather than other methods. Arafat added that the Palestinian government will continue its cooperation with Israel to counter what he called "acts of violence."

Replying to a question about threats made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government will suspend the implementation of the Wye River accord, Arafat commented: "The most important thing is that Israel will implement what was signed at the White House precisely."

He also stressed the Palestinian commitment to the agreement.

Arafat expressed his hope that the first phase of the Israeli troops redeployment in the West Bank will be undertaken on Thursday and Friday according to what was agreed upon by Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in a meeting they held on Monday in the presence of the US Middle East peace process coordinator Dennis Ross.

Meanwhile, Arafat described his meeting with the German President as "important and positive, where we find a commitment by the German side to give a push forward for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and to protect them."

Arafat expressed thanks for the aid provided by Germany to the Palestinians, estimated as accounting for 28% of the total aid provided to the Palestinians by the European Union.

For his part the German president expressed satisfaction over Arafat's assertion to settle differences with Israel "by dialogue rather than weapons."

On whether Germany will recognize the Palestinian state in case it will be declared in May, 1999, Herzog said, "We did not discuss this issue in our meeting. We do not speak of a matter before its takes place," noting that the Wye agreement stressed that the two sides will not take any unilateral measures.

He asserted Germany's continued support of the Palestinian people and the Middle East peace process, noting that the "German government will not change its policy concerning these issues."

Previous Stories:
  German president visiting Israel and Palestine   (11/17/1998)
  US criticizes escalation of Palestinian - Israeli crisis   (11/17/1998)
  Arafat asks Israelis to accept the idea of an independent Palestine   (11/16/1998)

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