Arafat cancels visit to Saudi Arabia

Israeli political sources said on Tuesday that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has for several times postponed a visit which he was due to pay to Saudi Arabia of fears that Israel will not permit him to return back to the Palestinian Authority areas.

The Israeli radio quoted these sources as saying that Arafat is scared also to leave the West Bank to Gaza and that he did not go to Gaza since the lifting of the military siege imposed by the Israeli army at his headquarters in Ramullah.

The radio said that Israel refuses to give guarantees to the US and to the international community on permitting Arafat to return back to the Palestinian areas in any way -- in case he leaves these areas.