"My own terrorists have defeated me." Such, apparently, is Yasser Arafat's wry feeling today, after his proposal to fall in line with Israel's position and gather 17 PA terrorists in Jericho was overruled - by the terrorists.
Arafat was hoping, based on Israeli hints, that if he would take the wanted terrorists from their place of refuge in his Mukata compound in Ramallah and send them to be supervised in Jericho - in return, Israel would remove its siege from his compound and allow him freedom of movement. Arafat invited them to his office over the weekend where he told them of his "offer" - but they objected and began a hunger strike.
This morning, Arafat gave in - and the terrorists will remain in Ramallah. They must officially agree to accept the terms of the hudna, however.
Israeli officials said this morning, while the standoff was still going on, that it's an "internal PA matter." They say that Arafat's status was never discussed, and that it would grant free passage to the terrorists to Jericho only if they were headed to prison there. The transfer of security control in Ramallah to the PA is under consideration.
Arafat was hoping, based on Israeli hints, that if he would take the wanted terrorists from their place of refuge in his Mukata compound in Ramallah and send them to be supervised in Jericho - in return, Israel would remove its siege from his compound and allow him freedom of movement. Arafat invited them to his office over the weekend where he told them of his "offer" - but they objected and began a hunger strike.
This morning, Arafat gave in - and the terrorists will remain in Ramallah. They must officially agree to accept the terms of the hudna, however.
Israeli officials said this morning, while the standoff was still going on, that it's an "internal PA matter." They say that Arafat's status was never discussed, and that it would grant free passage to the terrorists to Jericho only if they were headed to prison there. The transfer of security control in Ramallah to the PA is under consideration.