Arafat\'s Fatah organization urged the Palestinian Authority yesterday not even to negotiate with Sharon, threatening that \"if the Israelis think that Sharon will make security for them, we say loudly that Israel will never have security at all.\" Ignoring their rejection of Ehud Barak\'s peace offers, a Fatah statement said, \"The Intifada and resistance are our strategic options to get rid of the occupation and to achieve freedom, return (of Palestinian refugees), national independence and sovereignty. We call for stepping up the Intifada and resistance in the face of the butcher Sharon.\" PA negotiator Nabil Shaath said that if Sharon sticks to his positions, \"there can be no credible peace process.\"
However, as former American Mideast mediator Dennis Ross has noted several times since leaving his post - most recently, today - it was Yasser Arafat who turned down the most recent peace offer. \"During the latest round of talks at Taba, Arafat turned down former President Clinton\'s bridging proposals,\" Ross said today, referring to a package that included parts of Jerusalem and other major Israeli concessions.
However, as former American Mideast mediator Dennis Ross has noted several times since leaving his post - most recently, today - it was Yasser Arafat who turned down the most recent peace offer. \"During the latest round of talks at Taba, Arafat turned down former President Clinton\'s bridging proposals,\" Ross said today, referring to a package that included parts of Jerusalem and other major Israeli concessions.