Netanyahu delays once again implementation of agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed once again the implementation of the Palestinian-Israeli agreement saying that the Palestinians should submit a new section of its security plan to Israel before he will discuss the plan with the Israeli Cabinet.

This comes after Netanyahu called Arafat yesterday to request a delay, to which Arafat agreed. Netanyahu had said that would not implement the agreement until it is ratified by the Israeli ministerial council and the Knesset.

The Israeli ministerial council was to meet today for holding two days of discussions on the agreement, but Netanyahu delayed the meeting, saying that he is awaiting for a complete security plan from the Palestinian government, and "if I receive it, I will convene a meeting."

Thus these discussions were delayed till the Palestinian plan on combating terrorism is presented to the Americans.

However the US had seemed satisfied with the security plan presented by the Palestinians, with State Department spokesman James Rubin saying yesterday that, "The necessary plans were provided on time, prior to entry into force."

US sources in Cairo said that the agreement is still going forward despite the delay, to give a chance for the Israeli Knesset to ratify the agreement during a meeting to be held during the coming week.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated that Israel's continuation of its settlement policy after the signing of the Wye Plantation agreement bodes badly for the possibility of implementing the agreement.

Moussa said, in reply to questions posed by reporters on Israel's continuing to build new settlements, that it is essential to halt his settlement policy because Arab public opinion has begun to doubt the possibility of implementing this agreement.