In a veiled warning to the United
States, the Palestinian cabinet said that any peace initiative
that ignores UN resolutions stipulating an Israeli
withdrawal from war-won land Will open the door to violence.
The statement was issued on Friday after the weekly
Palestinian session. It came as Israel and the Palestinians
awaited US bridging proposals aimed at breaking the deadlock in peace talks.
Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath, meanwhile, said that
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was trying to arrange a
meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but that Arafat has not given his consent.
Israel TV's channel two said that efforts were under way to arrange a meeting on Saturday. Barak's spokesman, Gadi
Baltiansky, said a summit was not on Barak's schedule at
present.
Palestinian officials have privately expressed concern
about the possible content of the US compromise propsals,
especially on the fate of a key Jerusalem shrine revered by
both Muslims and Jews.
Israel reportedly is ready to accept UN Security
Council sovereignty over the shrine known to Jews as the
temple mount, former home of their ancient temples and the
most sacred site of Judaism, and to Muslims as Haram
as-Sharif, or nobel sanctuary. The walled compound houses two major mosques that mark the spot where tradition says the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Bureau Report
