German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer continued his \"peace-making\" efforts in Israel today, and even left open the possibility that Prime Minister Sharon and Yasser Arafat would meet in September. He implied that it was still up to Israel to stop the murderous Arab violence of the past 11 months by \"truly stopping all construction in Judea and Samaria.\"
Fischer also delivered a message from Sharon to Arafat to the effect that shooting attacks into Jerusalem would not be tolerated on any level. Sharon added that if shooting into Jerusalem continues, Israel would be forced to take actions to ensure that future attacks are not possible. The Prime Minister’s office vehemently denied that Israel had let up on its demand for \"seven quiet days\" without terrorist violence before taking steps to implement the Mitchell recommendations. The comments came in reaction to Fischer\'s statements that Arafat and Foreign Minister Peres may negotiate a staggered cease-fire.
For his part, Yasser Arafat told Fischer that his contribution to stopping the violence included informing Israel of a number of suicide bombers already inside Israeli towns in advance of attacks. Prime Minister Sharon denied the accuracy of these contentions. GSS Director Avi Dichter explained to the German minister that the opposite was true: Israel had presented Arafat and PA agencies with the names of wanted terrorist fugitives, in the hopes that the PA would thwart attacks, but PA agencies did nothing to apprehend the suspects.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry continues to try to arrange a meeting between Minister Peres and Yasser Arafat. President Moshe Katzav said today that he hopes that the meeting would lead to a ceasefire and the resumption of diplomatic negotiations. \"We are making every effort to this end,\" he said, \"but until now the meetings with Arafat have not been fruitful. We have great hopes for this meeting. It is a joint interest of both ourselves and the Palestinians.\"
Fischer also delivered a message from Sharon to Arafat to the effect that shooting attacks into Jerusalem would not be tolerated on any level. Sharon added that if shooting into Jerusalem continues, Israel would be forced to take actions to ensure that future attacks are not possible. The Prime Minister’s office vehemently denied that Israel had let up on its demand for \"seven quiet days\" without terrorist violence before taking steps to implement the Mitchell recommendations. The comments came in reaction to Fischer\'s statements that Arafat and Foreign Minister Peres may negotiate a staggered cease-fire.
For his part, Yasser Arafat told Fischer that his contribution to stopping the violence included informing Israel of a number of suicide bombers already inside Israeli towns in advance of attacks. Prime Minister Sharon denied the accuracy of these contentions. GSS Director Avi Dichter explained to the German minister that the opposite was true: Israel had presented Arafat and PA agencies with the names of wanted terrorist fugitives, in the hopes that the PA would thwart attacks, but PA agencies did nothing to apprehend the suspects.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry continues to try to arrange a meeting between Minister Peres and Yasser Arafat. President Moshe Katzav said today that he hopes that the meeting would lead to a ceasefire and the resumption of diplomatic negotiations. \"We are making every effort to this end,\" he said, \"but until now the meetings with Arafat have not been fruitful. We have great hopes for this meeting. It is a joint interest of both ourselves and the Palestinians.\"