The joint Israeli-Palestinian security committee convened Wednesday night for crucial meeting. Both sides have hinted a truce could be declared as early as Thursday.
The meeting, attended also by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni, was aimed at reaching an agreement on a timetable for a cease-fire and for the implementation of the Tenet and Mitchell plans.
Before the meeting, a top aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudeina, told reporters in Ramallah that during the security meeting, the Palestinians would present their own security plan.
"Tonight's meeting is very important, as the Palestinians will present our own security plan, as did the Israelis at the last one," he said, adding that the "coming hours and days are crucial" to the peace process.
He called on the US administration to rein in the Israeli government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which he said "has not committed to any agreement."
Responding to the suicide bombing attack that claimed seven lives and wounded dozens in northern Israel on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that Arafat had failed to take a single step to curb terrorism and violence.
Sharon added that he had discussed the matter with U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni, and that the two were in complete agreement.
Sharon spoke after convening his security cabinet Wednesday morning, soon after the suicide bombing on the Hadera-Afula highway.
Asked by reporters if the bombing and an last night attack on a village near Beit Shemesh were attempts by Arafat to foil the U.S.-brokered cease-fire incentive, Sharon said after the security cabinet meeting, "I spoke a few minutes ago with the American envoy, General Zinni, and we view this eye-to-eye, the gravity of the matter. What we are seeing is that Arafat has not strayed from his policy of terror, at this stage.
"He has not yet taken any step, as of now he has not handed down any order, and this is, of course, something that we view as very grave, and we shall take the steps that it requires.”
For his part, U.S. President Bush said he was "frustrated" with the violence and called on Arafat "to be diligent and firm and consistent in his efforts to reign in those who would like to disrupt any progress toward peace."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that, despite the bus bombing, the president "remains hopeful that General Zinni will be able to accomplish" his truce mission.
Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian official told AFP Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will meet US Vice President Dick Cheney "at the start of next week."
The official, who asked not be named, said that "at the start of next week, Arafat will meet Cheney," but gave no exact time or venue.
US officials in Washington said earlier that the two men could meet in Egypt if Arafat implemented a truce agreement with Israel, while officials in Cairo said preparations for a first possible encounter between the two were already underway. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
