Palestinian Authority members have responded, in both words and actions, to American mediator Gen. Zinni\'s efforts for a ceasefire and Prime Minister Sharon\'s consent to participate in one: \"No.\"
Zinni accepted Sharon\'s proposal for a three-way meeting involving the two of them and a senior PA official other than Yasser Arafat, to be held today, at which time an immediate cease-fire would be announced. The PA, however, said it still has demands that must be fulfilled before its terrorism ceases. \"We have proven that we can withstand the attacks by the IDF,\" a senior PA source said today, \"while on the other hand our own attacks have pressured and weakened Sharon. We are therefore not rushing to any meeting that will give Sharon a life-saver, and we will continue to insist on a full withdrawal from all Area A and significant easings of the closures [before agreeing to a ceasefire].\"
In case the verbal message was not sufficiently clear, PA elements carried out a series of terrorist attacks against Israelis today, miraculously leading to not more than one dead. Over 30 people were wounded. (See article 2 below.)
Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Peres gave conflicting reports on the contents of the discussions they hope to hold with the PA representatives. Sharon, who said that he would be willing to immediately follow the cease-fire declaration with the implementation of the Tenet Agreement, insisted that his government would absolutely not conduct diplomatic negotiations under fire. He told his Cabinet ministers this morning that his goal right now is to reach a ceasefire and Tenet, but that \"if, during the talks for a cease-fire, the other side attacks, we will act accordingly.\" Peres, on the other hand, said today, \"We are willing to also discuss diplomatic issues, that is, that which is called the diplomatic vista.\"
At least two government ministers are not confident that Sharon is on the right path. Labor and Welfare Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) said that it is a \"grave mistake\" to appoint Shimon Peres to head the diplomatic team, as he is \"the man who already brought the Oslo catastrophe upon us.\" Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) expressed concern that Israel might be dragged into making significant concessions, including diplomatic negotiations under fire, and said that having Peres leading the talks would \"not lead to the desired goal.\"
Zinni accepted Sharon\'s proposal for a three-way meeting involving the two of them and a senior PA official other than Yasser Arafat, to be held today, at which time an immediate cease-fire would be announced. The PA, however, said it still has demands that must be fulfilled before its terrorism ceases. \"We have proven that we can withstand the attacks by the IDF,\" a senior PA source said today, \"while on the other hand our own attacks have pressured and weakened Sharon. We are therefore not rushing to any meeting that will give Sharon a life-saver, and we will continue to insist on a full withdrawal from all Area A and significant easings of the closures [before agreeing to a ceasefire].\"
In case the verbal message was not sufficiently clear, PA elements carried out a series of terrorist attacks against Israelis today, miraculously leading to not more than one dead. Over 30 people were wounded. (See article 2 below.)
Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Peres gave conflicting reports on the contents of the discussions they hope to hold with the PA representatives. Sharon, who said that he would be willing to immediately follow the cease-fire declaration with the implementation of the Tenet Agreement, insisted that his government would absolutely not conduct diplomatic negotiations under fire. He told his Cabinet ministers this morning that his goal right now is to reach a ceasefire and Tenet, but that \"if, during the talks for a cease-fire, the other side attacks, we will act accordingly.\" Peres, on the other hand, said today, \"We are willing to also discuss diplomatic issues, that is, that which is called the diplomatic vista.\"
At least two government ministers are not confident that Sharon is on the right path. Labor and Welfare Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) said that it is a \"grave mistake\" to appoint Shimon Peres to head the diplomatic team, as he is \"the man who already brought the Oslo catastrophe upon us.\" Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) expressed concern that Israel might be dragged into making significant concessions, including diplomatic negotiations under fire, and said that having Peres leading the talks would \"not lead to the desired goal.\"