Israeli Security Cabinet Okays Zinni's New Proposal for Cease-fire

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Israeli Security Cabinet Okays Zinni's New Proposal for Cease-fire

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Israeli security cabinet decided Monday night to accept the latest proposal for a cease-fire presented by U.S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni, which is aimed at bridging the disagreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

The cabinet has agreed "in principle" to the proposal as the basis for a cease-fire with the Palestinians, but has some reservations on the articles in the proposal, Israel Radio reported.

According to the proposal, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) should tighten measures against terror, while the Israeli side should shorten the duration for implementing the U.S.-brokered Tenet cease-fire plan, in order to resume full-scale political negotiations as soon as possible.

Zinni introduced the proposal at the Israeli-Palestinian security talks held Sunday night in Tel Aviv, expecting the two sides could draft a cease-fire declaration on the basis of the proposal.

A new round of security talks, scheduled for Monday night, was postponed to Tuesday morning as more time is needed by both sides to discuss the proposal.

The two sides have met four times since Zinni's arrival on March 14, but failed to hammer out a cease-fire declaration and detail the measures needed to implement a cease-fire.

Both sides have disagreements over the sequence of a cease-fire-- whether the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and lifting of blockades on Palestinian cities should come first, or after the Palestinians take more actions to prevent terror attacks.

Differences have also existed over the duration from the implementation of a cease-fire to a stage in which diplomatic talks would resume. Israel suggests the duration be set for a month, while the Palestinians suggest a period of two weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed Monday night a three-stage plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to the prime minister, the first stage would be an end to hostility and terror attacks, followed by a lengthy interim period, and the final stage would be a full peace agreement and a cease-fire declaration.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Israeli-Palestinian Security Meeting Ends Without Ceasefire Agreement

Israeli-Palestinian Security Meeting Ends With No Agreement

Arafat Meets U.S. Envoy in Ramallah