America pushes Arafat into deal

By WAFA AMR

RAMALLAH - CIA Director George Tenet won Palestinian acceptance yesterday for a "work plan" already approved by Israel to end eight months of bloodshed.

"We have accepted the American document. Implementation will begin tomorrow," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said after the US spy chief held late-night talks with President Yasser Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"There will be a trilateral security meeting as well as a bilateral political meeting with the Americans."

Arafat, Abed Rabbo said, provided the American with a letter detailing his objections to one element of Tenet's plan - a buffer zone between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

Abed Rabbo said Tenet, who had spent six days on his peace mission, would now return to the United States, leaving other US officials to put the plan into motion.

Israel had said earlier that it accepted the American's proposals for ending violence that began in September.

"The United States is pleased that a work plan has been accepted by both sides," a US official said in Washington.

"Its purpose is to resume security cooperation, end the violence and restore the situation on the ground that existed before [the Palestinian uprising]."

Official details of Tenet's blueprint were not released. But Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said it called for an "end to violence" followed by a six-week cooling-off period.

Both sides say they see the proposals as a way to begin implementation of recommendations contained in a report by a committee led by former US Senator George Mitchell.

The Mitchell report calls for a cessation of violence followed by a cooling-off period and confidence-building moves, including a freeze on Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza, before talks on a full peace settlement resume.

"The Palestinian side did not sign this document [Tenet's plan] today," Abed Rabbo said. "Palestinians will sign it only when the whole package on the Mitchell recommendations is agreed, foremost being a halt to all settlement activities. This paper is considered a working plan as part of a package."

He said the Palestinians expected Washington to work toward lifting an Israeli blockade of Palestinian towns and moving Israeli troops back to positions held before the uprising.

Israel says violence must cease before it makes any moves. While Arafat and Tenet met, suspected Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a car near the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank, killing a Greek monk, the Israeli Army said. The car had Israeli licence plates.

During the Tenet and Arafat meeting, hundreds of Palestinians chanted outside that their uprising would go on. Sharon said on Tuesday that he had decided to accept Tenet's plan and see if it would lead to a reduction in hostilities.

"I can't say I am enthusiastic about the plan, but on the whole we can work and move forward."

Political analysts said Arafat would have a hard time selling a ceasefire to his people without concrete Israeli steps, such as a lifting of the Israeli blockade and the repositioning of Israeli forces.

At least 455 Palestinians, 111 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have died since the present uprising began.

- REUTERS

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