Arafat retracts dismissal of Erekat

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat backed off yesterday from removing senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat from the ongoing talks with Israel.

Palestinian official sources said that Saeb Erekat continued yesterday his participation in the urgent meeting of the Palestinian Cabinet after the situation was aggravated between him and Arafat because of the latter's agreement to Israeli demands which were obstructing the endorsement of an understanding note on the implementation of the Wye River accord.

Erekat considered Arafat's approval a sort of concession that exposes the Palestinian gains to danger, and Erekat threatened to withdraw and not continue negotiations under the chairmanship of Arafat.

The sources added that Arafat became angry with Erekat and issued orders to dismiss him, yet Erekat continued his negotiations in the Cabinet's urgent meeting after the atmosphere was rectified between him and Arafat due to quick and condensed efforts by some members of the Palestinian leadership, resulting in Arafat's agreement to retract his dismissal of Erekat.

The signs of a crisis inside the Palestinian leadership have appeared since yesterday morning when Arafat agreed to the Israeli demands concerning the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released and expanding the time period of the third withdrawal in Wye River accord, in return for US guarantees concerning the final settlement with Israel. Erekat in opposition demanded to withdraw from the negotiations.