West Asia ceasefire looks shaky as U.S. envoy meets Arafat

RAMALLAH (WEST BANK), JUNE 23. The U.S. West Asia envoy, Mr. William Burns, held talks with the Palestinian leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat today on a truce that showed signs of unravelling after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing.

The militant Islamic group Hamas, which claimed the attack, pledged to carry out more bombings during a mock funeral for suicide bomber Ismail Bashir al-Massoubi, 27, in the Gaza strip.

In the southern Gaza strip, dozens of families sifted through the rubble of homes destroyed by armoured

Israeli bulldozers in a pre-dawn raid near the border with Egypt and the Jewish settlement of Netzarim.

At least 18 homes were destroyed and 19 families made homeless in the raid which the Israeli army said it carried out for ``security reasons'' after a spate of grenade attacks against Israeli soldiers in recent days.

``It's obvious there can be no military solution to this problem,'' Mr. Burns told reporters after his talks with Mr. Arafat in Ramallah, in the West Bank.

``It's only through a political process that security can be re- established and also a return to a normal life for Palestinians living under very difficult circumstances. ''I also stressed the importance that the American administration attaches to both sides fulfilling their obligations under the security work plan put together by George Tenet, again as a means of ensuring the security and returning to normal life both peoples deserve,`` Mr. Burns said.

Mr. Saeb Erekat, senior Palestinian negotiator who attended Saturday's talks, said: ''President Arafat reiterated to Mr. Burns our full commitment to carrying out our obligations under the Tenet understandings.

``We asked the U.S. through Mr. Burns to help us face the difficulties our people are facing on the ground from the settlers' violence, the army, the siege and we urge the U.S. to do something to protect the Palestinian people,'' Mr. Erekat added.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, leaves Israel on Sunday for Washington talks with the President, Mr. George Bush. He is due to stop over in London for talks with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair.

Mr. Sharon told Israeli television in an interview on Friday the ceasefire did not limit Israel's ``right of self- defence to stop squads who are planning or embarking on terrorist attacks''.

- Reuters

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Section  : International
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