Arafat Forbidden to Leave Ramallah for Failing to Act Against Terror: Sharon

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002

Arafat Forbidden to Leave Ramallah for Failing to Act Against Terror: Sharon

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hinted Sunday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would not be permitted to attend the Arab League summit scheduled in Lebanese capital of Beirut later this week.

Arafat "will not leave (the West Bank city of) Ramallah as long as he does not act against the terror," the prime minister told the weekly cabinet meeting.

The security cabinet meeting, scheduled for Sunday to discuss U. S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni's mediation, was postponed.

The meeting was expected to decide on whether to allow Arafat to attend the summit, and if he is allowed, whether to block his return from Beirut.

Arafat, who had been confined by Israel to the West Bank city of Ramallah since early December, is still banned from travelling outside of the Palestinian territories.

Israel conditioned Arafat's possible travel to Beirut to attend the Arab summit on his implementation of the U.S.-brokered Tenet plan after a ceasefire agreement is reached between the Palestinians and Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian officials are to meet again on Sunday for security talks to be chaired by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni, aimed at hammering out a ceasefire declaration and detailing the measures needed to implement the ceasefire.

The two sides have met three times since the arrival of Zinni on March 14, but failed to reach any agreement on the ceasefire declaration.

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