Yesterday\'s Israel-PA ceasefire talks produced no results, and the PA continues to refuse to announce a ceasefire. Instead, its representatives demand that the IDF remove all roadblocks and encirclements, and immediately freeze all construction in Yesha communities. Another meeting was scheduled for this evening, but it was called off in light of today\'s murderous Palestinian attack. A meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and special US envoy Anthony Zinni is planned for this evening.
Rumors of a planned meeting between US Vice President Cheney and Arafat this coming Monday in Cairo were weakly negated yesterday by American sources. President Bush and Cheney said today that such a meeting would take place if Gen. Zinni says that Arafat has taken significant steps towards implementing the Tenet plan. \"We have set tough conditions for Arafat,\" Bush said, \"and I must say that so far I am very disappointed in his performance.\"
Israeli diplomatic sources said that today\'s murderous attack showed that Arafat \"has not even taken the minimal step of calling in the forces that are close to him and telling them to hold off on violence. He is obviously doing everything he can to make sure that international observers are sent here.\"
Rumors of a planned meeting between US Vice President Cheney and Arafat this coming Monday in Cairo were weakly negated yesterday by American sources. President Bush and Cheney said today that such a meeting would take place if Gen. Zinni says that Arafat has taken significant steps towards implementing the Tenet plan. \"We have set tough conditions for Arafat,\" Bush said, \"and I must say that so far I am very disappointed in his performance.\"
Israeli diplomatic sources said that today\'s murderous attack showed that Arafat \"has not even taken the minimal step of calling in the forces that are close to him and telling them to hold off on violence. He is obviously doing everything he can to make sure that international observers are sent here.\"