American envoy, Gen. Anthony Zinni is meeting this morning with Prime Minster Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres, and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer at Sharon\'s Shikmim farm in the Negev desert. Zinni is scheduled to meet with PLO leader Yasser Arafat later today and with other PLO representatives over the weekend. Gen. Zinni is reportedly trying to convince Sharon to make further \"confidence-building concessions\" to the Arabs. It is not known if he is demanding to begin the Tenet countdown to diplomatic negotiations and skip over the stage of \"7 days of absolute quiet without terrorism or incitement.\" In an interview this morning on Army Radio, Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelosoff said that if diplomatic negotiations are renewed, Israel would not make an issue over exchanges of fire \"here and there.\"
Israeli officials briefed Zinni yesterday with information indicating that PLO leader Yasser Arafat is not fulfilling his commitment to stop terrorism. Ben-Eliezer told Zinni that the current reduction in violence throughout the country is mainly a result of actions taken by Israel to prevent attacks. Israel agreed to participate in a joint security meeting with PLO representatives on Sunday which the American envoy is coordinating. The PLO has yet to confirm their participation in the meeting.
After a December 10th meeting with Arafat on his previous trip, Zinni said about the PLO leader, \"I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life.\" He said it was a \"waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat.\" Zinni will also be meeting with PLO official Abu Ala today.
Mayors and regional council leaders from the Negev are protesting outside Sharon\'s Shikmim residence against the annulment of the Negev law, which granted special benefits to residents in the area.
Israeli officials briefed Zinni yesterday with information indicating that PLO leader Yasser Arafat is not fulfilling his commitment to stop terrorism. Ben-Eliezer told Zinni that the current reduction in violence throughout the country is mainly a result of actions taken by Israel to prevent attacks. Israel agreed to participate in a joint security meeting with PLO representatives on Sunday which the American envoy is coordinating. The PLO has yet to confirm their participation in the meeting.
After a December 10th meeting with Arafat on his previous trip, Zinni said about the PLO leader, \"I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life.\" He said it was a \"waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat.\" Zinni will also be meeting with PLO official Abu Ala today.
Mayors and regional council leaders from the Negev are protesting outside Sharon\'s Shikmim residence against the annulment of the Negev law, which granted special benefits to residents in the area.