German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer delivered a message to Palestinian Authority head Yasser Arafat from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that shooting attacks into the capital would not be tolerated on any level. Sharon added that if shooting attacks into Jerusalem continue, Israel would be forced to take actions to ensure that future attacks are not possible. The Prime Minister’s office also vehemently denied that there was any compromise whatsoever on the Israeli condition of seven days without terrorist attacks before any progress can be made towards implementation of the Mitchell recommendations. The comments came in reaction to the German Foreign Minister’s statements that Arafat and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will negotiate a staggered cease-fire.
For his part, Yasser Arafat told Fischer that he had informed Israel of a number of suicide bombers already inside Israeli towns in advance of attacks to permit Israeli security forces to apprehend them. Sharon denied the accuracy of the PLO leader’s claims. GSS (General Security Service Shin/Bet) Director Avi Dichter explained to the German minister that Israel presented Arafat and PA agencies with the names of fugitives, in the hope of preventing attacks, but PA agencies did nothing to apprehend the suspects.
For his part, Yasser Arafat told Fischer that he had informed Israel of a number of suicide bombers already inside Israeli towns in advance of attacks to permit Israeli security forces to apprehend them. Sharon denied the accuracy of the PLO leader’s claims. GSS (General Security Service Shin/Bet) Director Avi Dichter explained to the German minister that Israel presented Arafat and PA agencies with the names of fugitives, in the hope of preventing attacks, but PA agencies did nothing to apprehend the suspects.