JANUARY 2001
Wednesday January 31 2001
Expected summit between Arafat and Barak before the Israeli elections
Reliable Palestinian poltical sources said yesterday contacts are currently underway for holding a meeting between President Arafat and PM Barak before the Israeli elections scheduled next Tuesday.
The source said the Israeli side still didn't give a decision to join this summit. However Israeli sources said the meeting could be held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt with the participation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The Palestinian sources said the Palestinian National Authority(PNA) does not expect tangible results from such summit which is basically planned to maintain the positive atmosphere which prevailed during the Taba marathon talks.
UN Secretary General Koffi Annan concluded earlier contacts with both sides to hold such a summit in Stockholm, but PM Barak decided not to join following his decision to suspend political contacts with the PNA.
While Palestinian sources expected to hold this summit in Egypt, Israeli sources said the Israeli side prefers holding it in a Mediterranean state probably in Cyprus or Turkey.
PM Barak confirmed the existance of international efforts to hold this meeting but he still unaware whether to join it or not. Both the Palestinians and Israelis concur in opinion that the likely summit will produce no concrete results.
Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Minister of Information and Culture, Yasser Abed Rabbo., said in an interview broadcast by Palestine Radio and TV Corporation that there is no Palestinian rejection to the idea of holding a summit meeting between President Arafat and PM Barak. He said the Palestinian side is anxious to pursue every possible effort which might lead to advancing the peace process on the Palestinian track.
In Paris Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa , who arrived in the French capital yesterday for a meeting with his French counterpart Hubert Vederene told France Press we should not issue a premature judgement on Likud leader Ariel Sharon and let us give him a chance to see whether we can cooperate with us or not.
He clarified if Sharon's election platform with regard to the peace process remained unchanged I predict things will worsen and the peace process will witness a real setback.
But if Sharon chose to embark on a sound political assessment to the peace process, then we will have no problem to deal with him. In reply to a question about progress scored by the Taba talks, the Egyptian Minister said the talks produced some progress though this was insufficent.
He added the two sides still differ over major final status issues like Jerusalem, refugees, borders, and security.
Representaives of the Red Cross pay a visit to Gilo settlement
According to the daily newspaper Al-Hayyat Al Jadida, a delegation from the International Red Cross Organization, paid a visit to Gilo settlement near Bethlehm city to evaluate damages caused to properties during recent clashes with the Palestinians. It said the visit comes in flagrant violation to the international laws and the provisions of the Geneva Fourth Convention which both confirm the illegality of Jewish settlements built in the occupied territories. This visit made by a UN organization represents an indirect recognition of the Jewish settlements, the paper said.
Tuesday January 30 2001
President Yasser Arafat held important talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el Sheikh yesterday immediately after his arrival in Egypt from Davos where he delivered an important political speech before the World Economic Forum. The two leaders discussed the outcome of the Taba talks to the point it has reached before PM Barak decided to halt the talks till after the Israeli elections.
The talks also covered the ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people and the PNA's request for international protection in addition to the contacts made by Arafat and Egyptian FM Amr Musa with world leaders on the fringes of the Davos Economic Forum.
President Mubarak briefed President Arafat on his meeting with his majesty King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian Saudi communiqué which supported the Palestinian leadership in its struggle and its endeavors to reach a peaceful settlement based on restoring Palestinian national rights and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
President Arafat said in an interview with the Israeli Channel Two TV that the Palestinians and Israelis have realized significant progress during five days of talks in Taba . He said the two sides agreed to resume talks from the point they reached after the Israeli elections.
President Arafat added, the Palestinians will not interfere in the internal Israeli political affairs and will respect the outcome of their elections.
Jewish settlers are preparing to launch a blitz settlement campaign on the eve of the Israeli elections to erect new settlement spots in the Islamic quarter in Jerusalem's old city and in other occupied territories to create a new defacto position on the ground.
According to a report published by the Israeli daily newspaper Ha'artez, the Jewish settlers are planning for a new settlement spot in the Islamic quarter in Jerusalem within the next few days. They plan to plunder a store and a nearby building in el Wad street for this purpose.
On the other hand the Israeli daily Y'edot Ahranot said Jewish settlers are planning to launch a large settlement campaign on the eve of the elections to create new facts on the ground.
Monday January 29 2001
President Yasser Arafat asked the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday for international protection to the Palestinian people from the ongoing Israeli brutal attacks and the economic strangulation policy currently enforced against the Palestinian people. .
Despite the aggressive Israeli policy, the Palestinian leader told the annual Davos Economic Forum his full commitment to the Middle East peace process. .
He said the Israeli government is laying off our laborers, closing our factories or destroying others till the total number of laid off laborers exceeded 60% of the total number of our labor force. Israel is damaging through its occupation forces and settlers Palestinian farms, uprooting fruit trees, imposing strict measures on our imports and exports and blocking food supplies donated by Arab and friendly states from entering the Palestinian areas. .
He asked the participants in the Davis Forum whether they've ever seen more cruel collective punishment policy exercised by Israel in the contemporary age?. .
Concerning the Palestinian economic losses, President Arafat pointed out the loss incurred by Palestinian infrastructure projects and economy reached US$ 4 Billion. .
Moreover the Palestinian agricultural sector has suffered dearly as a result of uprooting over 100,000 fruitful trees and bulldozing 80,000 dunams of crops by either the Israeli occupation soldiers or Jewish settlers. .
President Arafat updated on the fringes of the Davos Forum a number of attending officials on the atrocities practiced by Israel in the occupied territories. .
They included UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan, the President of Crowatia, the President of the World Bank, and the Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres.
Sunday January 28 2001
The Taba talks, initiated by Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Taba, ended yesterday with a statement affirming the two sides willingness to reach stable and lasting peace.
The joint statement read: " the two sides declare that they have never been closer to reaching an agreement and it is thus our shared belief that the remaining gaps could be bridged with the resumption of negotiations following the Israeli elections".
Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmad Qrei said the most important achievement was that the talks have succeeded in clarifying the positions of both sides making it easier for the leaders of the two countries to make the necessary decisions and also help restore trust between the two sides.
He said, however, gaps remain on a number of issues, first and foremost the refugee issue.
Dr. Erekat also admitted that the two sides still differ on a number of main issues that remained unresolved.
The joint communiqué distributed to the press reads in part: " The Taba talks were unprecedented in their positive atmosphere and expression of mutual willingness to meet the national, security and existential needs of each side". It added:" Given the circumstances and time constraints, it proved impossible to reach understandings on all issues, despite the substantial progress that was achieved in each of the issues discussed.
According to the communiqué the two sides discussed four issues namely the refugees, security, borders, and Jerusalem with the aim of reaching a final agreement ending years of conflict and ensuring peace to their peoples.
Qrei told a press conference the Palestinians welcome to continue the talks with Likud Leader Ariel Sharon if he chooses to continue the peace talks. If he does not, Qrei said, we have our ways to continue our struggle, through diplomatic means, political means, and all means to achieve our goals. Therefore, we will continue with this process as long as the Israelis are interested in continuing.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said at the joint press conference:" We can say with certainty that Israelis and Palestinians have never been closer to an agreement than at the present time.. although we don't have an agreement, we do certainly have a platform, and basis for an agreement that it will be possible to reach after the Israeli elections.
Saturday January 27 2001
Serious and Tough Talks in Taba
The Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council who heads the Palestinian delegation to the Taba talks announced yesterday the ongoing talks with the Israeli side reached a serious stage and covered a variety of issues. He said despite this seriousness we still didn't score real progress due to the big differences between the positions of both sides on almost most topics on the agenda. Qrei said the Jerusalem issue was discussed in a serious way and from all aspects and that the four working groups continued discussing the important issues like Jerusalem, land, refugees, security, and borders.
He added the two sides agreed to suspend the talks on Sunday to be resumed after the Israeli elections.
He said the understanding reached on compensating Palestinian refugees cannot be described as real progress.
Qrei added, the Palestinian delegation is committed to the right of return for the Palestinian refugees as something sacred, which is not liable for compromise.
With regard to an earlier Israeli proposal for leasing the Jordan valley area, Qrei said this Israeli demand has already been deducted and we are not going to accept this under no circumstances.
In an interview with the Israeli TV yesterday Ehud Barak said that his government is closer to an agreement with the Palestinian people than at any time before, adding that the remaining eight days to the Israeli elections do not permit bridging gaps between the positions of both parties. A second Palestinian negotiator Dr. Nabil Shaath said yesterday that progress was made on the issues of land, borders, and the compensation of Palestinian refugees.
The head of the Israeli Meretz Party, Yousi Sarid, also admitted narrowing the gaps on certain issues without elaboration. He said progress is going on gradually and that the talks cover all major issues.
Sarid also hinted to the possibility of holding a summit between President Arafat and PM Barak in Davos next week. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami described the Taba talks very serious, pointing to the possibility of reaching a compromise.
Thursday January 25 2001
The Taba peace talks resumes today
Palestinian and Israeli delegations resume their marathon peace talks in the Red Sea resort town of Taba today in a bid to reach a framework agreement on final status issues.
The Israeli cabinet decided in a meeting held last night to resume the Taba talks after two days suspension.
PM Ehud Barak told the cabinet meeting he still believes the chances for reaching a deal before the Israeli elections are still dim. Chief Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo confirmed the resumption of the Taba talks today. He said the suspension of the talks proves the unseriousness of the Israeli government and we still hope the talks will go ahead in a serious atmosphere as before.
He added we've promised the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples to score good results by this weekend. He said the assassination of two Israeli civilians should not stop or influence the momentum of the talks.
Abed Rabbo said any delay in the peace talks will only serve the interests of the hostile forces to the peace process. He concluded his statement by saying:" We were serious and are still committed to go ahead. If the Israelis chose to continue the talks, we've no objection and if they decide to halt the talks under lame excuses we will not be the losing party."
Wednesday January 24 2001
Israel suspends Taba Talks until further notice
The Israeli government halted until further notice the marathon peace talks held between Palestinian and Israeli delegations at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba taking place since last Sunday . In a surprise move, PM Ehud Barak recalled the heads of the various Israeli teams for consultation following the killing of two Israelis near Tulkarm city.
A statement issued by Barak's office said the Israeli premier recalled FM Shlomo Ben Ami and Justice Minister Yousi Beilin for consultations.
The spokesperson of the Israeli delegation to Taba told reporters, the talks were suspended till a further notice. A member of the Palestinian delegation said the next few hours will decide the fate of the Taba talks. In a statement made to France Press, Abed Rabbo said the talks were held in a serious atmosphere and we are prepared to reach a deal within the context of international legitimacy resolutions.
A Palestinian source close to the talks said the two sides scored significant progress on the issues of Jewish settlements and sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
He said the new map provided by the Israeli delegation showed Israel has relinquished many settlements, which it was insisting on keeping . It also decided to withdraw from the Jordan valley and areas north of the Dead Sea.
Close sources to the talks also expected the two delegations will start drafting a partial draft deal very soon.
On this issue, Abed Rabbo said if the atmosphere continued as before and the Israelis submitted serious and convincing proposals on the land, Jerusalem, and refugees , we may indulge into drafting a partial deal.
President Arafat holds important talks with the Saudi Crown Prince
President Arafat held successful discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in the Yamama Palace in the Saudi capital yesterday.
The two sides discussed the political situation and current efforts exerted to rescue the Middle East peace process focusing in particular on the marathon talks in Taba.
President Arafat updated the Saudi Crown Prince on the closure of the Palestinian territories by the Israeli occupation forces and its devastating implications on the Palestinian economy and life.
The Palestinian delegation included Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas and Minister of Communications Ali Qawasmi.
Tuesday January 23 2001
Palestinian and Israeli officials agreed on the seriousness of the ongoing marathon talks in the Red Sea resort town of Taba despite existing gaps in their positions over certain difficult issues.
Four working groups were set up by the Taba meeting, the first dealing with land and borders which was headed from the Palestinian side by Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo and by the Israeli Minister of Tourism Amnon Shahak representing the Israeli government.
The second working group deals with the Jerusalem issue. The Palestinians were represented at this committee by the Minister of Local Government Dr. Saeb Erekat, and the Israelis by attorney Jelad Sher. The third group will deal with security issues.
The head of the Palestinian Preventive Security System in Gaza Col. Mohammed Dahlan represents the Palestinian side to this group and Shlomo Yani was named to represent the Israeli government.
The fourth is the refugees group which is represented for the PNA by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Nabil Shaath and by the Israeli Minister of Justice Yousi Beilin for the Israeli side.
The four working groups submit their findings to the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Qrei and Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami.
Mr. Qrei told reporters the Taba talks will continue until Friday to explore the possibilities of reaching agreement. Close sources to the Taba talks said the two sides will submit reports to their leaderships on Friday before heading for Taba to resume their talks.
Qrei added : I can say there are very serious discussions but there are still gaps and we are working very hard to see if it is possible to bridge them.
Israeli Transportation Minister Shahak said there were no agreements in the working groups but the talks are taking place in a very serious atmosphere.
Earlier a Palestinian official close to the talks told France Press the Israeli team unfolded maps on settlements and borders and some proposals on Jerusalem and the refugees issues.
The source, who was not identified , said the Israeli side proposed to annex the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem's old city and the western wall area which were parts of Arab East Jerusalem before the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, to West Jerusalem.
With regard to the refugees' issue , the Israeli team approved the return of 150,000 refugees via family reunion procedures and not on the basis of the Right of Return as recognized by UN resolutions.
In another statement the Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo predicted a pleasant surprise at this weekend if the talks continued in the same positive atmosphere.
An Israeli source close to the talks said the Palestinian team showed seriousness in the discussions and the Israeli side was surprised by this seriousness and the way the Palestinians are running these talks.
Israeli attorney Jelad Sher said the Israeli government opposition to the return of refugees applies only to Israel. He clarified Israel does not oppose their return to other countries and to their Palestinian state.
Sunday January 21 2001
Marathon Talks start in Taba tonight
Palestinian and Israeli negotiators arrived in Egypt today to start marathon talks in the Red Sea resort town of Taba . According to Palestinian political sources the talks will touch on all controversial issues between the two sides.
The Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council(PLC) Ahmad Qrei said the Taba meeting will focus on all final status issues including refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, water resources, and security matters.
In an interview with the daily newspaper Al Quds, Mr. Qrei said there is a true willingness to initiate serious discussions culminating to agreement. He also denied any real breakthrough during last peace talks to pave the way for Taba meeting. He admitted the gap between both position is still unbridgable toward most major issues.
He expected the Taba talks will continue for one week or ten days . Qrei, who heads the Palestinian delegation to the Taba talks, announced there is no plan to invite President Arafat and PM Barak to join the talks, but he did not rule out the possibility of their participation had the two sides achieved important results prompting taking important decisions.
The Palestinian delegation includes in addition to Qrei, the Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo. the Minister of Local Government Saeb Erekat, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath, Col. Mohammad Dahlan, Head of the Palestinian Preventive Security System in Gaza, and other experts.
The Israeli delegation will include in addition to FM Shlomo Ibn Ammi, the Minister of Justice Yousi Beilin, Shahak and Yousi Sarid.
A senior Palestinian official told France Press that a real progress has been achieved during the past few days during contacts between Palestinian and Israeli officials.
The official, who asked not to be identified, said we've achieved some sort of progress toward certain issues.
He added we are discussing an acceptable formula to sovereignty over Al Aqsa Mosque. He said the Palestinian sovereignty over Al Aqsa will be accepted by Israel if the Palestinians recognized the Jewish religious rights.
The source said Israel will also agree on the geographic contiguity of the Palestinian territories through establishing a land corridor linking the West Bank with the Gaza Strip and on a Palestinian sovereignty over the Jordan valley and northern bank of the Dead Sea.
He said this progress has been achieved during contacts between Arafat and Barak on the fringes of the formal negotiations.
In Tel Aviv, the spokesperson of the Israeli Foreign Ministry denied any real breakthrough in the talks or any Israeli concessions and that the talks wereonly focusing on reducing the level of violence.
Abed Rabbo Rejects the Israeli Proposals on Jerusalem
The member of the PLO Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabbo reiterated his opposition to all recent Israeli proposals on the final status of Jerusalem.
In a statement published by Al Quds daily newspaper today, Abed Rabbo was quoted as saying: " Jerusalem should be an open city or a capital of two states giving free access to followers of all religious faiths. Abed Rabbo statement came during a briefing at the Palestine Information Center with a French delegation yesterday.
Abed Rabbo said the 4th of June 1967 borders should remain the international borders between the Palestinian and the Israeli states.
He also called upon the Israeli government to recognize the right of return for the Palestinian refugees.
Saturday January 20 2001
President Yasser Arafat presided over the weekly cabinet meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Gaza city yesterday. The meeting joined by members of the PLO Executive Committee and cabinet Ministers vigorously condemned the continued Israeli aggression against Palestinian land and people. It condemned the continuing closure of the occupied territories now entering its fourth consecutive month.
The participants indicated to the extreme dangers posed by the Israeli separation plan which primarily aims at isolating Palestinian villages and towns and giving a free hand to Jewish settlers colonizing the occupied Palestinian territories, plundering land and expanding the settlements.
The Palestinian leadership urged the international community to intervene immediately to put an end to the Israeli aggression particularly in light of the probable enforcement of the Israeli separation plan.
It also discussed the prevailing political situation including peace talks with Israel following several meetings held during the past few weeks inside and outside the region to clarify the Palestinian official position with respect to all final status issues. At the meetings the Palestinian side expressed willingness to continue the peace talks on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 194 and Land for Peace principles.
A statement issued by the meeting stressed the need for the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories. In view of the above, the Palestinian leadership expressed readiness to continue the peace talks with the Israeli side as long as the Israelis are serious to pursue these talks and accept to adhere to international legitimacy resolutions.
The statement also hailed President Clinton's efforts to advance the peace talks and hoped the new American administration will maximize efforts to realize a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Qrei revealed yesterday a new marathon round of Palestinian-Israeli talks to start in Taba, Egypt on Sunday.
He said the Israeli government has positively responded to President Arafat's proposal to hold such marathon talks.
Qrei added, we were informed last Thursday of this approval but the spokesperson of Barak's office said later that, this has to be okayed by a cabinet meeting.
An Unidentified Palestinian source said President Arafat and PM Barak held telephone conversions last Thursday night without giving further details.
Qrei did not rule out holding a Palestinian-Israeli summit at the end of these talks.
Thursday January 18 2001
Arafat meets Mubarak and Ben Ami in Cairo separately
President Yasser Arafat met in Cairo yesterday with Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami and discussed with him the latest developments on the Palestinian Israeli peace track.
According to well-informed Palestinian sources, the meeting held between President Arafat and Ben Ami at the Egyptian Presidential Palace in Cairo yesterday produced no tangible results.
The Egyptian TV described the meeting as complete failure. The 2-hour meeting was partially joined by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Palestinian delegation headed by President Arafat included the Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas, Arafat's political aide Nabil Abu Rudineh, Dr. Shaath, and Col. Dahlan.
The meeting was originally initiated by President Mubark to advance the peace talks, and was joined later by Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa.
The Palestinian leader is scheduled to confer in the Egyptian capital today with his Egyptian counterpart within the framework of continued coordination and consultation between the two Arab states.
Topics on the agenda include the latest developments in the peace process and Arab and international efforts to revive the talks as well as stopping the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and the Palestinian reservations on Clinton's peace plan.
A meeting planned yesterday between the PNA and Israel was cancelled following the announcement of the Cairo meeting between President Arafat and Israeli FM Shlomo Ben Ami.
A new meeting is likely to be held today Thursday between the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Qrei and the head of Barak's office attorney Jelad Sher.
Ben Ami, who held a separate meeting with President Mubarak, told reporters the current talks with the Palestinians are going on two parallel levels.. the political level and the security level.
For his part Egyptian F.M. Amr Musa said we should not throw the peace process from the window but it must lead to good end. He said the best thing done by Ben Ami was his decision to come to Cairo to discuss in a serious way the problems facing the peace process. He said we've entered into serious debate describing the issues very complicated.
Israeli occupation soldiers flanked with fanatic Jewish settlers yesterday intensified their attacks against the Palestinian people in an attempt to end Al Aqsa uprising
Yesterday's attacks followed the assassination of a Jewish settler near Khan Younes city after being abducted by unknown persons. In retaliation, the Israeli government unilaterally decided to close Gaza International Airport and two border crossing points in the Gaza Strip. It also tightened the closure of all the West Bank and Gaza Strip paralyzing traffic on all roads and dirt roads. In Mawasi area near Khan Younes, Jewish settlers escorted and protected by soldiers set on fire green houses and buildings belonging to Palestinian civilians.
According to Palestinian sources, fanatic settlers set on fire five Arab buildings and ten green houses in addition to wounding three civilians.
In Salem village near Nablus one Palestinian was killed and three others wounded by Jewish settlers. The Palestinians responded by attacking an Israeli vehicle wounding a settler.
The escalated attacks coincided with a report published by Ha'artez newspaper concerning a separation plan between Israel and the Palestinians issued by Barak's office.
This plan aims at protecting Jewish settlements illegally built in the occupied territories following June 1967.
Three Armed men assassinate Makki in Gaza
Three masked men fatally wounded the General Coordinator of Palestine Radio and TV Corporation Hisham Makki while waiting in a restaurant in Gaza city yesterday. The assailants managed to escape the scene.
Palestinian Security sources said a search campaign was initiated to find out the fugitives who ran away in a Subaru car. The PNA issued a statement mourning Makki accusing traitors and collaborators of perpetrating this heinous crime.
Wednesday January 17 2001
Beit Hanon and Jerusalem host two political and security meetings.
Palestinian and Israeli negotiators held two high level meetings in Beit Hanon and Jerusalem yesterday. The first meeting was held in a west Jerusalem hotel at midday yesterday while the second took place at 10:30 p.m. last night in Beit Hanon.
The second meeting was attended by senior security officials and one minister from both sides.
The speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Ahmad Qrei who headed the Palestinian delegation to the political meeting told reporters the two sides held serious talks to bridge gaps existing between the two varying positions in light of the basic principles outlined by the Oslo Accords. He said the two positions are still differing on most issues under debate. He also denied signing any paper or document summing up the status of the negotiations.
Qrei added, " it is unlikely to sign such paper as long as there are major differences to be tackled". Mr. Qrei ruled out the possibility of reaching a deal within the next few days as declared by Shimon Peres under these circumstances.
He also denied the conclusion of secret talks between both sides stressing there is no other channel except this one. He said the controversial issues are not only relevant to the refugees and Jerusalem issues but rather involve the most fundamental issues which constitute the crux of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The head of the Palestinian delegation said the two sides agreed to continue their talks during the next few days including another meeting scheduled for today.
He also welcomed the statement issued by Syrian President Bashar Assad in which he called for coordinating Arab positions and expressed the readiness of the Palestinian leadership to confer with Arab countries particularly with the Syrian government to this effect.
Dr. Saeb Erekat who participated in yesterday's meeting said the Israeli side did not submit any maps or papers to the Palestinian side and described the talks as "serious, but inconclusive".
Dr. Erekat said in an interview with the daily Arab newspaper Al Quds that the Palestinian and Israeli delegations discussed the barbaric attacks perpetrated by Jewish settlers against Palestinian farmers in Mawasi area near Khan Younes.
He also described the Israeli statements about signing a memo of understanding as groundless, adding that the Palestinian and Israeli differences cannot be eliminated within a matter of days. The Palestinian side did not receive any Israeli reply to a number of clarifications requested by the Palestinians.
In Tel Aviv, the Israeli delegation informed the Israeli peace cabinet that the meeting held with the Palestinian side yesterday was " good" and witnessed some progress.
Dr. Erekat, Gen. Hendi, Gen. Majaydeh, Col. Rajoub, Col. Dahlan, and Maj. Gen. Ismail Jaber attended the second meeting from the Palestinian side.
The Minister of Tourism Amnon Shahak headed the Israeli delegation. The meeting focused on the closure of the Palestinian territories and the assassination campaign launched by Israel against Palestinian political activists.
Jewish Settlers escalate their assaults against Palestinians
Under protection of the Israeli occupation forces, fanatic Jewish settlers illegally residing in the occupied territories intensified their attacks against Palestinian properties particularly in the Gaza Strip. They damaged scores of acres planted with citrus trees and vegetables north of Gaza while the Israeli invading troops were bombing densely populated Palestinian areas inflicting serious damage to buildings.
Israeli tanks entrenched in fortified positions near Nitsarim settlement fired eight rounds against a Palestinian security position. Eyewitnesses said a group of settlers erected four mobile houses near Mawasi area to form a nucleus of a new settlement. Jewish settlers yesterday badly damaged two green houses and a water pump near Mawasi.
In another unjustified step, Israeli occupation soldiers fired toward two Palestinian ambulance cars near Al Shohada junction in the Gaza Strip. The two cars were carrying four Palestinian children who were treated at Israeli hospitals.
Tuesday January 16 2001
Wednesday January 10 2001
Tuesday January 9 2001
Monday January 8 2001
Sunday January 7 2001