Netanyahu concerned over Clinton's visit to Gaza
Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 12/10/1998

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed great concern over US President Bill Clinton's coming visit to Gaza, which he said "the Palestinians will use to promote their demands to establish an independent Palestinian state."

In press statements he made on Tuesday, Netanyahu warned against the transformation of the Palestinian state into what he called "a base of terrorism," unless certain issues threatening the security of Israel are forbidden, as he claimed.

For his part the Palestinian official responsible for planning and international cooperation, Nabil Shaath, said the visit of the US President to Gaza would incline towards having the recognition of the US President of a Palestinian state, which Palestinian President Yasser Arafat intends to announce on May 4, 1999.

During his meeting with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Washington on Monday, Israeli foreign minister Ariel Sharon warned against the visit of the US President Bill Clinton to Gaza, saying " I think that one of the problems now, one of the dangers now is that the Palestinian Authority gets the feeling that they are totally backed by this great democracy." He added, "We think that all of us have to be careful not to create false expectations, which only add friction and tension."

Monte Carlo radio reported that a great number of Israeli officials criticized the visit.

Previous Stories:
  Arafat seeks US assurances on Israel implementing accords   (12/9/1998)
  Ross in Israel to prepare for Clinton's visit   (12/7/1998)
  Palestinian official demands US intervention to save the peace process   (11/30/1998)

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