Israel Allows No. 2 Palestinian to Hold Meeting on Lifting of Siege

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 23, 2002

Israel Allows No. 2 Palestinian to Hold Meeting on Lifting of Siege

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Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer has allowed Mahmoud Abbas, the No. 2 Palestinian leader, to convene Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah on an end to the Israeli siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israel Radio reported on Monday.

Abbas and the officials would discuss a way out of the current crisis. Arafat has been tightly confined in his compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah by Israeli troops since last Thursday.

But Abbas was forbidden to enter the compound to meet with Arafat, the report added.

A senior Israeli army officer has said the Isreali troops will not permit anyone to enter the compound, and they will continue to surround the compound until the 19 wanted Palestinians are handed over.

Some local reports said the Israeli military siege prevented the Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement from convening a special meeting, in which the participants would persuade Arafat to appoint Abbas as Palestinian prime minister.

The meeting, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, was also expected to make decisions regarding Palestinian reforms and ways to stop attacks against Israeli civilians.

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