Palestinian opposition ask Arafat to refuse negotiations with Israel

Six Palestinian opposition organizations and factions asked Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to stop U.S.-sponsored negotiations which aim at resuming the peace path with Israel.

In a statement signed by Hamas, the Islamic Force Movement, the Salvation Party, the Democratic and the Popular Fronts to Liberate Palestine, and the Arabian Liberation Front said "It is time to learn the lessons well and work on the salvation of our people and our national case out of this destructive way. This could be accomplished by halting these negotiations, which have become a farce that covers Israeli policies, and by stopping the security coordination with Israel."

The opposing factions said that the recent discussions held by US Secretary of Stated Albright seeks to implement a plan which maintains permanent Israeli occupation of Jerusalem and of more than half of the West Bank, in addition to what is already dominated by Israel in the Gaza Strip.