International
Arafat launches inquiry into arms ship issue
GAZA CITY, JAN. 8. The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat is launching an inquiry into a ship laden with tonnes of weapons seized by Israel in the Red Sea, and pledged to punish any Palestinians who are implicated in the affair, a top Arafat aide told AFP.
``President Arafat has announced the creation of a commission of inquiry into this ship,'' Nabil Abu Rudeina said by telephone from the West Bank city of Ramallah, after a meeting there between the Palestinian leader and the European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. ``President Arafat also stressed that all those who are implicated in the affair will be punished if proof is established,'' he said.
Mr. Rudeina also said Mr. Arafat repeated a proposal during the meeting that the United States, the European Union, Russia and the U.N. participate in an international inquiry in the affair. ``In any case we will pass on results of our international inquiry to the Americans, Europeans, Russians and the United Nations,'' he said. Israel said it intercepted Karine A freighter on Thursday at dawn in the Red Sea's international waters. The ship was reportedly carrying 50 tonnes of mainly Iranian arms to be delivered to the Palestinian Authority.
Iran and the Palestinians have denied the accusations, which - embarrassingly for Mr. Arafat - came as the U.S. envoy, Anthony Zinni was conducting a new ceasefire mission in West Asia. The announcement of inquiry comes after the Palestinian captain of the ship told Israeli television yesterday he was sent by associates of Mr. Arafat. - AFP
AP reports from Jerusalem:
An Israeli Cabinet Minister on Tuesday criticised the United States for playing down the significance of the intercepted arms shipment.
Speaking on Israel's army radio, the Transportation Minister, Ephraim Sneh said Washington knows the details of the case, but has adopted a low-key approach in hopes that Israeli will not take tough action against the Palestinians, and in order to avoid a diplomatic confrontation with Iran. ``It appears that the problem is that those who are hearing our words are not willing to admit the full significance,'' Mr. Sneh said.
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