Palestinian Leadership Hails Mitchell ReportThe Palestinian National Authority hailed on Monday the recommendations of Mitchell Commission on ending the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict."The PNA hails the recommendations of Mitchell Commission including a total freeze on Jewish settlement construction and a halt to violence against the Palestinian people," said a statement issued by PNA spokesman, of which Xinhua received a copy. The statement also praised the naming of two envoys by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to help Israel and the Palestinians implement the recommendations. "The PNA welcomes also the naming of the two envoys who will contact with the concerned parties to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations," the statement said. "The PNA believes that it is necessary to hold an emergency meeting by the parties of Sharm el Sheikh summit, which set up the Mitchell Commission, and the co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, to discuss the mechanisms of implementing recommendations notably the total freeze of Jewish settlement expansion," it added. "The PNA still believes that the Egyptian-Jordanian peace initiative is a sound basis that could integrate with the Mitchell report," he pointed out. The fact-finding commission, headed by former US senator George Mitchell, presented its findings in New York earlier Monday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, a freeze on Jewish settlement and more determined actions against terrorism from the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called US Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday evening on the latest developments and the international efforts to stop "the Israeli aggression" against the Palestinian people and the PNA," according to a PNA official. "Arafat is scheduled to meet European Union High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Common Security Javier Solana in Gaza, the third leg in Solana's tour of the region," the Palestinian official added. Solana is visiting Syria after Egypt, where Solana warned earlier Monday that the situation in the Middle East could further deteriorate. |
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