Israeli FM Says No Meeting Set with ArafatIsraeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Monday that no meeting has been set with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israel Radio reported.Peres, who has been authorized by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss with Palestinian officials, has proposed a gradual, area-by-area ceasefire between the two sides following 11- month violence, during which over 700 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed. During a television interview on Saturday, Peres said that he would meet with Arafat "in the near future" to discuss the implementation of a ceasefire. It was not clear what caused Peres' change of mind. Observers said that his contradictory remarks showed that there were difficulties for arranging such a meeting. Peres suggested on Monday that the major blockade is Palestinians' declaration that they would not meet with him until Israel leaves Orient House, the representative office of the Palestine Liberation Organization in East Jerusalem, and other Palestinian institutions. Israel occupied the buildings on August 10 following a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed 15 Israelis and injured 100 others a day earlier. It was reported on Sunday that Palestine Council Speaker Ahmed Qurei would refuse to meet with Peres due to the closure of Orient House. Meanwhile, talks between Peres' Director General Avi Gil and Palestinian officials were conducted secretly, Israel's Foreign Ministry said. Peres said that secret contacts with the Palestinians on different levels would continue. |
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