Arafat and Barak fail to prevent delay of scheduled withdrawal today

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak were unable during a meeting held last night in Tel Aviv to solve a dispute that threatened Israel's scheduled withdrawal for more Palestinian lands today.

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian minister of local rule and top negotiator, had said previously that the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank according to Sharm El-Sheikh accord was not implemented today as was decided, due to the dispute between the Palestinians and Israelis regarding the lands that will be included in this withdrawal.

CNN reported today that the Palestinians are requesting that the land being handed over not be desert land, but rather inhabited areas.

Arafat emphasized to Israel the importance of implementing all rights of the transitional stage, opposing unilateral Israeli procedures.