Israel: Maher cancels a visit to meet with Arafat

Statements were contradictory on Thursday concerning a visit to be held by the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher to Ramullah today to meet with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and discussing with him the possibility of achieving peace, before the coming meeting between Arafat and the US secretary of state Colin Powell.

Although a high ranking Israeli officials announced that Maher had canceled his visit to ramullah, the Egyptian foreign minister did not rule out to meet with Arafat today, though he refused to confirm or to deny news to the visit of the headquarters of the Palestinian President.

However, Maher denied the truth of a report issued by the Israeli daily Yadhout Ahronot that the Israeli government refused to permit him to meet with Arafat.

The Israeli radio said on Thursday that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon permitted, at the request of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Maher to meet with the Palestinian President today. The radio explained that the Egyptian officials vowed to urge Arafat to move in order to cease fire and to halt terrorism.