Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Chief Yasser Arafat convened for a meeting this morning in Gaza (southern Israel) despite a night of Arab attacks Israeli targets. Recent polls including a Channel Two TV survey show that some 80% of the Israeli public opposed the meeting; a majority of cabinet members, including some members of Peres\' party, also opposed opening negotiations with the PLO under fire. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave into pressures from US Secretary of State Collin Powell who called Sharon urging to allow the Peres/Arafat meeting take place. A televised press conference and joint statement is expected to follow the session.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau says regarding the meeting with Arafat:
“Mr. Rabin did accept the advice of Mr. Peres when he went on with Oslo, but hundreds and hundreds of Israeli families lost their loved [ones] and they are miserable until today because of listening to Mr. Peres’ advice. I am trying to understand what still is necessary for Mr. Peres after seeing the collapse of the two Twin Towers... to understand that with terrorism, you don\'t negotiate.”
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza released a statement saying that the Peres-Arafat meeting is one of the worst low points of the Sharon-Peres government.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau says regarding the meeting with Arafat:
“Mr. Rabin did accept the advice of Mr. Peres when he went on with Oslo, but hundreds and hundreds of Israeli families lost their loved [ones] and they are miserable until today because of listening to Mr. Peres’ advice. I am trying to understand what still is necessary for Mr. Peres after seeing the collapse of the two Twin Towers... to understand that with terrorism, you don\'t negotiate.”
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza released a statement saying that the Peres-Arafat meeting is one of the worst low points of the Sharon-Peres government.