Arafat to Leave for Washington Within HoursPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat is expected to leave for Washington within hours for face-to-face talks with US President Bill Clinton on the US proposals.The decision was made after a telephone conversation between Arafat and Clinton, Nabil Abu Rudeina said Monday night. Earlier in the day, Arafat has asked the US to give response to the Palestinian demand for clarifications over the peace plan, which reportedly will give Palestinians sovereignty over the Al Aqsa mosque compound and the Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, but deny the Palestinians' rights of return. The Wailing Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, will remain under Israeli sovereignty. Israel has in principle accepted the proposals while the Palestinian leadership expressed deep reservations over the plan and demanded for clarifications over some major points. Monday evening, Arafat also met visiting Javier Solana, high representative of the European Union's security and foreign policy, and briefed him on the political situation in the Palestinian territories. They discussed the US compromise plan and the possibility of EU's mediation role between the Palestinians and the U.S. for the clarifications from Washington. Arafat urged the EU members to play a more effective role in dealing with the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories. The meeting was also attended by EU Special Envoy to the Middle East Miguel Moratinos. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |