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Barak Holds Palestinians Responsible for Crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday held Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his Palestinian Authority responsible for the week-long violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Barak said after a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac that he is ready to meet with Arafat in a three-way meeting which will also be participated by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
He said Israel will stop using force "if Palestinians stop shooting."
"All that is necessary is a clear order given by Yasser Arafat to his militiamen and his police forces to stop shooting and all will return to calm immediately," he said.
Arafat, however, accused Israel of using excessive force and called for an international inquiry into the clashes.
A spokesman for the U.S. State Department said that a three-way meeting will be held Wednesday afternoon. So far Arafat has not confirmed whether he will attend the meeting or not.
Large-scale violence occurred after Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon and his parliamentary colleagues visited the Temple Mount, a holy site to both Jews and Muslims in East Jerusalem, last Thursday.
So far, at least 58 people have died and more than 1,000 others have been injured in the clashes.
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