PA President Arafat Agrees to Meet with Clinton as Middle East Peace Talks Reach a Deadlock

Strategic Insights -

PA President Yasser Arafat has agreed to meet with President Bill Clinton at the White House, following talks in Tunis and Cairo and contacts with various Arab leaders. Arafat emphasizes that any discussions with Clinton must be based on mutual understanding and that Palestinian requests and readiness for consultations must be acknowledged. He has raised several key issues, including control over Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, the status of future Jewish settlements in the Palestinian state, and the fate of Palestinian refugees seeking to return to their former homes in Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has hardened his stance, rejecting Arafat's recalcitrance and hinting at the possibility of a "unilateral separation" between Palestinians and Israelis.

Key Takeaways:

  • PA President Yasser Arafat has agreed to meet with President Bill Clinton at the White House, pending mutual understanding and recognition of Palestinian requests.
  • Arafat has raised several key issues with Clinton, including control over Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, the status of future Jewish settlements, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has hardened his stance, rejecting Arafat's recalcitrance and hinting at the possibility of a "unilateral separation" between Palestinians and Israelis.
  • The European Union's top foreign policy official, Javier Solana, is working to facilitate a return to the bargaining table, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the narrow window of opportunity for a peace deal.
  • A group calling itself the Martyrs of Al Aqsa Intifada has taken responsibility for the death of Binyamin Kahane on December 31.
  • The peace talks are reaching a deadlocked, with both sides struggling to find a mutually acceptable solution.
  • Ariel Sharon, a hawkish Likud party leader, is challenging Ehud Barak in a snap election on February 6, raising concerns about the country's future direction.

Statistics:

  • 24 hours: The time frame within which Arafat expects to be informed about the status of his discussions with the American administration.
  • 3.5m: The number of Palestinian refugees seeking the right to return to their former homes in Israel.
  • 2: The number of existing parties in the Israeli election, with Ariel Sharon's Likud party challenging Ehud Barak's government party.

Sources:

  • "BBC, "Middle East: Arafat heads for Washington", 2 February 1998, cited in [1]
  • "New York Times, "Middle East: Netanyahu drops precondition; Barak takes no chances", 5 January 1998, cited in [2]
  • "AFP, "EU's Solana urges Israel, Palestinians to grasp peace opportunity", 1 January 1998, cited in [3]