U.S. President George Bush refuses to meet with Yasser Arafat until the PA Chairman either stops the violence against Israel or issues a directive to his people, in Arabic, to call off the violence. CIA head George Tenet has informed Bush that he has information directly connecting Arafat with the violence, and senior sources say that the U.S. has therefore no interest in security cooperation with the PA. Other West European countries have also informed Arafat that he will not be a welcome visitor in the near future.
Similarly, the United States and other UN Security Council members have announced that they will not approve an international peacekeeping force to the Palestinian Authority against Israeli wishes. Responding to the PA request for such forces, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told the United Nations Security Council last night that the PA need only refrain from engaging in terrorism and uproot the terrorist infrastructure inside its territory, and there would then be no need for peacekeepers. \"Once the PA stops shooting, there would be no need for defense, since Israel did not begin the daily violence but only responded to it,\" Peres said.
In addition, Jerusalem diplomatic sources said that the U.S. will act to change the charter of the Mitchell Commission investigating the recent breakout of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. They said that the change would be made even before Prime Minister Sharon arrives in Washington next week. The Commission met today with experts on the war against terrorism in the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, to hear how they explain the breakout of the intifada.
Similarly, the United States and other UN Security Council members have announced that they will not approve an international peacekeeping force to the Palestinian Authority against Israeli wishes. Responding to the PA request for such forces, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told the United Nations Security Council last night that the PA need only refrain from engaging in terrorism and uproot the terrorist infrastructure inside its territory, and there would then be no need for peacekeepers. \"Once the PA stops shooting, there would be no need for defense, since Israel did not begin the daily violence but only responded to it,\" Peres said.
In addition, Jerusalem diplomatic sources said that the U.S. will act to change the charter of the Mitchell Commission investigating the recent breakout of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. They said that the change would be made even before Prime Minister Sharon arrives in Washington next week. The Commission met today with experts on the war against terrorism in the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, to hear how they explain the breakout of the intifada.