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Arafat Is Interested in Peace Process: Israeli Official
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's security advisor said on November 13 he believed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was still interested in Middle East peace after weeks of Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the Palestinian territories.
Danny Yatom told Israel Radio, however, it was not clear yet whether Arafat would favor holding a three-way summit with US President Bill Clinton and Barak.
He emphasized that the Israeli Prime Minister wants peace talks to resume only if the violence on the ground quiets down.
"I don't know if Arafat is prepared for a (three-way) meeting or not. I know that Arafat is interested in continuing on the path of the peace process, he prefers the path of the peace process," Yatom said in Washington after Clinton met Barak Sunday evening.
"Barak does not see room to start or to renew peace negotiations in the shadow of this level of violence," the security advisor added.
Barak has been endeavoring to reach a peace deal with Arafat despite the outbreak of bloody clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian protestors late September, which have so far claimed more than 200 lives, mostly Palestinians.
The Israeli leader, however, blamed Arafat for not having done much to control the violence and questioned whether Arafat is a true "partner for peace."
Arafat, for his part, has condemned the excessive use of force by Israelis against the stone-throwing Palestinians.
Israel Radio also reported Monday that Arafat has agreed to take part in a tripartite meeting with Barak and Clinton in response to the US president's hopes to arrange such a meeting later in the month.
Clinton expressed the hope while meeting Barak Sunday night.
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