Arafat initially approves the American proposal for negotiations with Israel
The PLO representative in Washington Hassan Abdul Rahman said that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has given his initial consent to the American formula for a negotiation settlement with Israel and that the next step is to be taken by the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.
In a statement he made in Washington on Wednesday Abdul Rahman added that Arafat reviewed during the two meetings he held at the White House with President Bill Clinton, the position of the PA, in a positive way.
Palestinian sources said that President Clinton proposed convening a tripartite American, Israeli and Palestinian meeting at the level of negotiators with the objective to crystallize a joint documents includes the stances of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides concerning the American proposals, during Clinton's meeting with Arafat in Washington.
At the Israeli level, the Barak government has decided to send an envoy to Washington to hold talks after Arafat has approved, with reservations, on the American proposals.
The Israeli official TV said that Jalaad Sheir, the director of Barak's office was chosen to make these talks and his task will be searching the attempt to halt the Intifada in the Palestinian territories.
On the other hand, a Palestinian source said that Arafat had approved an American proposal to resume intensive talks with Israel at the supervision of the US within ten days to discuss the American proposals and the Palestinian reservations.
The source noted that the American President will set next Friday as a date for the talks.
Meantime, the Israeli deputy defense minister Afram Seneh threatened to use what he called " the strong and long arm" of the Israeli army to strike the Palestinians in all their positions and offices and every one who takes part in the Intifada.
On Wednesday the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak threatened to launch a comprehensive war if the Intifada will continue.
On Wednesday the Israeli tanks renewed its bombardment of the Palestinian houses in Ramullah and several centers for the Palestinian police in the city and heavy damages were inflicted as a result in several buildings and centers.
Meanwhile confrontations continued with the Israeli occupation forces in various areas in the West Bank and Gaza and thousands of Palestinian students demonstrated in protest of the Israeli authorities closure of roads and crossings leading to Gaza in the context of tightening its siege to the Palestinian territories and separating the northern part of the sector from its south.
The students called for lifting the siege so as to be able to arrive at their universities and follow up their studies.
The Israeli radio said that a military spokesman for the Israeli army said that Gaza strip was divided into four parts and these parts were separated by cement barriers armored vehicles and tanks and the Palestinians were prevented from moving between these areas.