The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have reached an understanding regarding the issue of the Hamas leader, Dr. Abdel Aziz al Rantissi. Based on this understanding, al Rantissi will remain under house arrest.
At a meeting held at the home of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Authority officials and Hamas representatives agreed that the armed Hamas members who are currently guarding al Rantissi in his home would be replaced by guards from the Palestinian security forces who would then place him under house arrest.
After an attempt by police to arrest Dr. al Rantissi on Thursday was thwarted by armed hamas members and hundreds of stone-throwing protesters, leaders from the Islamic group met late into the night in Gaza City. Hamas spokesman Saed Seyam told Reuters "the discussion was aimed at removing the causes of tension between the group and the Palestinian Authority."
”The Palestinian factions have arranged a good and successful deal to finish this situation to the satisfaction of all the parties," commented Dr. Kamal Shurafi, a Palestinian Authority lawmaker, who attended the meeting.
An anonymous senior Israeli official declared Friday that Israel wanted Arafat to arrest Islamic activists involved in attacks against Israeli targets and not necessarily political leaders such as al Rantissi.
Israel to Continue Assasinations
Israel’s Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Saturday that Israel would carry out strikes against Palestinians suspected of masterminding “terrorist” attacks against Israel. Speaking on Army Radio, Peres said that Israel would hit, "any walking time bombs who are on their way to carrying out terror attacks in Israel."
Peres added that he was pleased by a Friday statement issued by the Hamas movement in which it said that all suicide attacks in Israel would be stopped. However, Peres stated he had adopted a wait and see attitude, saying "the test is in the results."
Meanwhile, Palestinian minister Saeb Erekat disclosed he told Peres in a telephone conversation Friday that he now expected Israel to stop its pre-emptive strikes on suspected Palestinians and lift its blockade of Palestinian towns and villages. "The ball now is in the Israeli court to stop all acts of aggression, to stop the policy of assassinations, to lift the closure and to return to the negotiating table," he conveyed.
Christmas Ceremonies in Bethlehem
Israel's Minister without Portfolio, Tzipi Livni disclosed Saturday that Yasser Arafat, had not made any formal request to Israel to be allowed to attend Christmas ceremonies in Bethlehem. Livni was speaking in an interview on Israel Radio, quoted by Haaretz daily.
There has been mounting speculation in the last few days as to whether Arafat would apply to Israel for permission to attend Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, as he has done every year since 1995, and whether Israe'ls Prime Minister Sharon would accede to his request.
Arafat has been cooped up in the West Bank city of Ramallah for the last two weeks, after the Israeli air force destroyed his helicopters and imposed a closure on the city following several suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa that left 26 Israelis dead.
Opposition leader Yossi Sarid, also speaking on Israel Radio said that "If Israel's response to what Arafat is doing now, is to prevent him from going to Bethlehem on Christmas, that will be another serious mistake." (Albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
