Three Foreign Ministers are visiting in Israel this week - and all of them are adhering to Israel's request not to meet with Yasser Arafat. They represent Japan, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua. Israel has a standing request from European Union leaders not to meet with Arafat, but the EU has so far not agreed.



Arafat is hoping to soon be able to leave Ramallah for the first time in 20 months. This will apparently happen if the IDF withdraws from Ramallah next week - although Israel and the PA have not reached a final agreement on this.