PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who has been holed up in Ramallah for almost two months by Israeli tanks, likes to look at the bright side. He announced on Wednesday that, as \"part of our continuous contact with the American administration\" - which has all but broken off contacts with him - a Palestinian delegation headed by Abu Ala had left for talks in Washington with US government officials. Arafat also noted that another PA delegation was to leave yesterday for Davos, Switzerland, headed by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. The occasion was the prestigious annual economic conference of international leaders, and what Arafat neglected to mention was that this was the first time in eight years that he had not been invited to attend.
Last year, Arafat took advantage of the Davos podium to, in the words of CNN, \"launch a blistering verbal attack on Israel…,\" contrasting sharply with the speech delivered a few minutes later by Shimon Peres.
Foreign Minister Peres will meet with PA parliament speaker Abu Ala in New York today, and then with Secretary Powell. Peres will attempt to convince Powell that there is still a chance for diplomatic progress between Israel and the PA.
Last year, Arafat took advantage of the Davos podium to, in the words of CNN, \"launch a blistering verbal attack on Israel…,\" contrasting sharply with the speech delivered a few minutes later by Shimon Peres.
Foreign Minister Peres will meet with PA parliament speaker Abu Ala in New York today, and then with Secretary Powell. Peres will attempt to convince Powell that there is still a chance for diplomatic progress between Israel and the PA.