Israel\'s security cabinet decided last night, despite strong American pressure, not to allow Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to meet with Yasser Arafat. However, at the same time it kept the door slightly ajar by continuing the policy of military restraint. IDF soldiers are now forbidden to open fire at terrorists unless immediate danger is apparent.
Peres, who sorely wishes to meet with Arafat, acknowledged that the U.S. wants the meeting, \"in order that the Arab world not think that the American war against terrorism is one against Arabs.\" Speaking on Israel Radio this morning, Peres claimed, \"The Americans are not asking us to give up territory or our right to self-defense, but merely that we should sit with Arafat.\" Labor party ministers Vilnai, Itzik, Cohen, and Sneh said that Israel should adhere to American wishes on this matter.
However, most of the security cabinet ministers were against a Peres-Arafat meeting. They were bolstered by IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Malka, who told them that Arafat has absolutely no intention of changing his policies and that his ceasefire order this week is merely a tactical ploy. The ministers were told that Arafat has \"done nothing but talk, and his underlings understand that, except for blowing themselves up in suicide attacks within pre-1967 Israel, they can do whatever they want.\"
Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) asked Malka to present the army\'s position regarding a Peres-Arafat meeting, but Sharon did not allow him to answer. Benizri said that a meeting now with Arafat would again grant him legitimacy \"just when he is already on the ropes,\" and other ministers agreed. Even Peres\' request to Arafat to arrest the murderers of Sarit Amrani yesterday went unanswered. Although Peres said that Arafat assured him the murderer would be arrested, Israeli security has learned that the PA released the murderer after arresting him briefly for a \"conversation.\" Amrani, mother of three children between the ages of two months and four years, was murdered yesterday morning outside Tekoa in eastern Gush Etzion, and her husband Shai was seriously wounded.
It is still possible, however, according to Israeli diplomatic sources quoted in Ha\'aretz, that Peres and Arafat will meet tomorrow night, depending on the \"security situation.\" Translated, this means that if the 48-hour ceasefire that Prime Minister Sharon demanded five days ago holds for at least 36 hours [Palestinian sources announced that the ceasefire began this morning], this will be sufficient. Other Israeli news sources reported that the meeting had been postponed \"indefinitely.\"
Peres, who sorely wishes to meet with Arafat, acknowledged that the U.S. wants the meeting, \"in order that the Arab world not think that the American war against terrorism is one against Arabs.\" Speaking on Israel Radio this morning, Peres claimed, \"The Americans are not asking us to give up territory or our right to self-defense, but merely that we should sit with Arafat.\" Labor party ministers Vilnai, Itzik, Cohen, and Sneh said that Israel should adhere to American wishes on this matter.
However, most of the security cabinet ministers were against a Peres-Arafat meeting. They were bolstered by IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Malka, who told them that Arafat has absolutely no intention of changing his policies and that his ceasefire order this week is merely a tactical ploy. The ministers were told that Arafat has \"done nothing but talk, and his underlings understand that, except for blowing themselves up in suicide attacks within pre-1967 Israel, they can do whatever they want.\"
Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) asked Malka to present the army\'s position regarding a Peres-Arafat meeting, but Sharon did not allow him to answer. Benizri said that a meeting now with Arafat would again grant him legitimacy \"just when he is already on the ropes,\" and other ministers agreed. Even Peres\' request to Arafat to arrest the murderers of Sarit Amrani yesterday went unanswered. Although Peres said that Arafat assured him the murderer would be arrested, Israeli security has learned that the PA released the murderer after arresting him briefly for a \"conversation.\" Amrani, mother of three children between the ages of two months and four years, was murdered yesterday morning outside Tekoa in eastern Gush Etzion, and her husband Shai was seriously wounded.
It is still possible, however, according to Israeli diplomatic sources quoted in Ha\'aretz, that Peres and Arafat will meet tomorrow night, depending on the \"security situation.\" Translated, this means that if the 48-hour ceasefire that Prime Minister Sharon demanded five days ago holds for at least 36 hours [Palestinian sources announced that the ceasefire began this morning], this will be sufficient. Other Israeli news sources reported that the meeting had been postponed \"indefinitely.\"