The Hindu : A honey trap, says Israel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

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International

A honey trap, says Israel

JERUSALEM SEPT.16. The Palestinian Authority today made a fresh ceasefire offer which was quickly rejected by Israel saying it would not be lured into the "honey trap" and demanded that PA crackdown on militant groups.

The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat's newly appointed National Security Adviser, Jibril Rajoub, said the leadership was ready to declare an immediate, general ceasefire to end all acts of Palestinian violence, provided that Israel agreed to halt military attacks and remove its blockades.

"`The Palestinian leadership is ready to proclaim and respect a general ceasefire, but it must be mutual," he said. Israeli officials dismissed the proposal terming it as "honey trap." "Ceasefire had failed to end the fighting in the past, and that the Government stood by a decision not to agree to a further truce," Ha'aretz quoted Israeli officials as saying.

The offer comes a day after the Palestinian Premier-designate, Ahmed Qureia, handed Mr. Arafat the authority to appoint a new Cabinet, defying the Israeli demand to `remove' him.

The Palestinian militant groups declared the end of ceasefire last month after Israel killed a Hamas political leader, Shanab, in a targeted attack in response to an August 19 Hamas bus bombing that killed 22 persons.

U.N. members flay Israel

At the United Nations, Israel came in for strong condemnation by 40 member-states for its plans to expel the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, from Palestinian territories, as the Security Council debated situation in West Asia.

``To remove Arafat would be a major political mistake and adversely affect the peace process,'' they said. Also, the vote on a resolution condemning Israel for plans to oust Mr. Arafat, drafted by the Palestinian U.N. envoy, Nasser Al Kidwa and supported by Arabs, was postponed after the United States, closest ally of Israel, threatened to veto it, describing it as one-sided for its failure to condemn suicide attacks against Israel.

AP/PTI

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