Israel rejects Moratinos's request to meet with Arafat

The Israeli government on Monday rejected a request proposed by the European delegate to the Middle East, Miguel Moratinos, to meet with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat in his residence in Ramullah.

An official at the Israeli foreign ministry asked not to be identified said that Moratinos's request was rejected by the office of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Prior to that, a high ranking Palestinian official indicated a likely meeting between Moratinos, who is accompanied by a Danish diplomat, and Arafat in his headquarters in Ramullah where he has been besieged since last Thursday by the Israeli forces which destroyed the complex.