Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced Sunday he has suspended peace talks with the Palestinians until the February 6 leadership election, following a week of intensive negotiations that failed to yield an accord.
But in an official statement, his office said that "security contacts for [purposes of] calming the situation on the ground, stopping the violence and thwarting terrorism, will continue," reported Haaretz newspaper.
Barak decided not to meet Arafat for a summit in Sweden after the Palestinian President made a speech Sunday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, accusing Israel of waging a "barbaric war" against the Palestinians, and of using prohibited weapons and ammunition "that include in their composition depleted uranium," said the paper.
Barak, said Haaretz, informed Sweden's leaders and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan of his decision to stop meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials relating to peace negotiations.
The statement released by Barak's office noted that "the Israeli government continues to stand by the peace process on the basis of insistence on Israel's vital interest," it said.
In his speech, Arafat was quoted as saying that "the current government of Israel is waging and has waged for the past four months a savage and barbaric war as well as a blatant and fascist military aggression against our Palestinian people."
Appearing on a panel that included Israel's minister for regional cooperation, Shimon Peres, Arafat also made the accusation about Israel's use of ammunition containing depleted uranium, said press reports.
Arafat added that Israeli actions had cost the Palestinian economy 2.5 billion dollars, but insisted he remained committed to the peace process.
Peres, whose opening comments were far more upbeat and conciliatory, seemed taken aback by Arafat's tone.
"I must admit I came prepared for a wedding, not a divorce," he said.
Peres, said Haaretz, insisted that Israel's crackdown was solely in self-defense, and that Israel remained committed to finding a lasting peace.
"I want you, our partner, to be convinced that we are very, very sincere in having you as a partner who lives in security, in freedom, in respect," he said to Arafat.
In the Palestinian lands, four Palestinian youths, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured after being fired on by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, said AFP.
In another incident, Israeli soldiers based near the Gush Katif Jewish settlement injured an 18-year-old Palestinian, as he was riding in a taxi on the road to the Gaza City airport, said the agency -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
