Clinton Pledges to Discuss Palestinian Questions: Arafat's AdvisorThere would be some clarifications to questions raised by Palestinians over the US peace proposals in the coming 24 hours, said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Redina in an interview with the Voice of Palestine radio.The meeting held Tuesday night between Arafat and US President Bill Clinton did not yield any specific result, Abu Redina said Wednesday morning. However, he noted that Clinton has pledged to discuss all questions raised by Palestinians with Israeli side before resuming talks with the Palestinian leadership soon. Arafat is scheduled to arrive in Egypt late Wednesday to attend the meeting of the ministerial Arab follow-up committee which was set up at the Arab summit held last October in Cairo. Aides close to Arafat disclosed that Arafat went to Washington carrying a long list of 25 points in the US proposals that need American clarifications. The US proposals have aroused growing opposition from the Palestinians, and Arafat delayed giving a response pending further US explanations. The Clinton proposals include Israel's transferring of sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods and the al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem to Palestinians, but deny the right of return for more than 3.7 million Palestinian refugees. The proposals stipulate that Palestinians will have control over the entire Gaza strip, and 95 percent of the West Bank in a land swap, as Israel will annex most of the Jewish settlements in the area. Israel has accepted in principle the US plan as a basis for future negotiations with Palestinians. But many Palestinian officials reject it. Palestinian Minister of Culture and Information Yasser Abed Rabou said Tuesday in a written statement that it is impossible to accept the proposals that do not involve the establishment of a future Palestinian state and the Palestinian refugees' right to return. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |