Report: Palestinian-Israeli secret negotiations

The Lebanese al-Osbou magazine quoted a Western diplomatic source in Beirut as saying that secret negotiations are being held between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the Greek Island of Rhodes on questions pertaining to settlement, sovereignty and refugees.

In its recent issue, the magazine said the Palestinian delegation to these negotiations is led by an academic close to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The man is authorized by Arafat to take decisions. He graduated from the US and has strong connections in the US.

The Western diplomatic source expected Rhodes negotiations to create a rift in Palestinian public opinion, especially as negotiators only adopt Arafat's views on basic issues. The magazine added that Arafat acquainted several Arab leaders with these negotiations but did not brief them on the details concerning the Israeli conditions relating to final status negotiations.

The magazine added that some Arab leaders encouraged Arafat to proceed, while others warned him against a new Israeli trap. The magazine, according to the Western diplomat, unveiled internal secret negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis led by Yasser Arafat and chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Qrei and Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazin.

The Israeli side to these negotiations is led by Netanyahu's advisor, Yitzhak Mulkho. The western diplomat added that the two sides reached in these negotiations important decisions concerning redeployment.