Mubarak, Arafat Begin Discussing Outcome of Camp David TalksEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak began talks on Wednesday in Alexandria with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who received a hero's welcome from the Egyptian people for his steadfastness in negotiations with the Israelis.Arafat arrived in the Egyptian Mediterranean port city earlier from the United States, where he had held intensive and tough negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for 15 days. He was greeted by thousands of cheering people, lining up on the streets and waving to him as he was driven to Ras al-Teen presidential palace overlooking the sea. Arafat was expected to present to Mubarak a comprehensive evaluation of the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks held at the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington. Arafat and Barak ended their negotiations on Tuesday without reaching a peace deal to resolve disputes over the thorniest issues including Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and Jewish settlements. Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stressed late Tuesday night that Egypt supports Arafat's stances on the sensitive issues, especially on Jerusalem, saying that the rights of the Palestinian people must be respected. The Palestinians want Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state. But Israel insists that Jerusalem is its "eternal and undivided capital," a claim not internationally recognized. |
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