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Palestinian-Israeli Negotiations to Resume Soon in Washington: Arafat
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said in Gaza on Sunday, December 17, that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators would resume peace talks in Washington soon in a bid to reach a lasting settlement between the two sides.
Arafat made the remarks after a meeting with an Israeli parliamentary delegation at the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) headquarters, adding that he does not object to having a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak if there are proper preparations.
Two Palestinian and Israeli delegations are expected to hold US-sponsored bilateral talks in Washington soon in a bid revive the stalled the peace process and carry out agreements hammered out by the two sides, Arafat noted.
"Peace is a regional and international request", he said, urging the Israelis to "work together so as to reach a peace deal."
On a proposal by U.S. President Bill Clinton to enable the Palestinians to fully control al-Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctity in exchange for dropping the cause of Palestinian refugees, Arafat said "this issue has not yet been considered, but it will be discussed in Washington."
Palestinian Minister of Culture and Information Yasser Abed Rabbo, who will leave for Washington for the negotiation talks, said Sunday that U.S. officials would have separate talks with the Palestinian and Israeli sides in an effort to resume Palestinian- Israeli negotiations.
A trilateral meeting may also be held if necessary, he added.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace track had been in deadlock since last July's Camp David summit due to disputes over the fate of Jerusalem, and the return of Palestinians refugees.
Meanwhile, Israeli sources said Sunday that an Israeli delegation headed by Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ali and Barak's top advisor Gilad Sher would leave for Washington on Monday evening for peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Barak said Sunday in a report presented to Israel's cabinet weekly meeting that there is an opportunity to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, without giving a fixed date for such negotiations.
Israeli sources close to negotiations said no Israeli proposal has been made so far to grant a Palestinian control over al-Haram al-Sharif in exchange for dropping the cause of Palestinian refugees.
An Israeli envoy is to visit Egypt and Jordan next few days to brief Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II on the recent progress in the Palestinian-Israeli track, the sources added .
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat is expected to leave for Egypt before his visit to Washington to attend talks with US and Israeli officials this week.
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