Arafat Accepts US Proposal for Ending Siege on Ramallah

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 29, 2002

Arafat Accepts US Proposal for Ending Siege on Ramallah

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat accepted on Sunday a proposal by US President George W. Bush for ending the siege on his headquarters compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a top aide to Arafat.

The proposal said that the Palestinian militants who assassinated Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi and have been held up in Arafat's compound should be imprisoned in a Palestinian National Authority (PNA) prison and would be guarded by US and British security officers.

Abu Rudeineh said that Arafat announced his acceptance of Bush's proposal at a meeting with U.S. and British consular officials at his office in Ramallah Sunday night.

The Israeli government accepted the proposal, under which US and British guards will be dispatched to the region to ensure that the assassins, who are members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), remain behind bars in their Palestinian jail.

Palestinian officials said that Arafat made a reservation on the issue of including PFLP leader Ahmed Sa'adat and PNA financial chief Fuad Shubeiki, who is believed by Israel to have orchestrated the Karine A ship weapons-smuggling affair.

All six have been held up in Arafat's compound since the Israeli army imposed the siege on March 29.

The four assassins of Ze'evi were tried last week by a Palestinian military court in Arafat's office, with one receiving 18 years of imprisonment, one 12 years, one eight years and the fourth one year.

Abu Rudeineh said the US plan has not been formally presented to the Palestinians. However, he said that the Palestinians are against turning Palestinian prisoners over to Israel or allowing them to be imprisoned outside the Palestinian territories.

He expressed hope that if the proposal is implemented, the Israeli siege on Arafat will be lifted and Arafat would be able to leave his Ramallah headquarters.

The Palestinian officials said no decision on the U.S. proposal will be made until it is formally presented to them, adding that the idea had been raised during Arafat's meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Israeli Bulldozers Destroy Arafat's Convoy Cars

Bush Hails Deal to End Arafat's Siege As "Hopeful Day"

>> Full Coverage

"Washington Times" at Anti-China Tricks Again ( 3 Messages)

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 59 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 144 Messages)

Jiang Calls for Joint Efforts Towards Growth of Sino-US Ties ( 13 Messages)

China's First Magnetic Suspension Test Track Built ( 2 Messages)