Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called for a “second Sharm summit” on ending the escalating situation in the Palestinian territories, said reports.
Arafat’s call came after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Arafat said that such a meeting was necessary to give the parties an opportunity to present their views regarding the report issued by former US senator George Mitchell's fact-finding committee, said Haaretz newspaper, citing Israel Radio.
Arafat's remarks were relayed by Egypt's Minister of Information Safwat al-Sherif.
Sherif said the two leaders had also discussed the general aspects of the Mitchell report.
The Mitchell Commission was set up following the Sharm el-Sheikh summit to investigate circumstances surrounding the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
The Egyptian minister added that Arafat had also suggested that the parties to the Sharm el-Sheikh summit present their views on the Mitchell report to US President George W. Bush - assuming they agreed to his request to hold Sharm el-Sheikh II.
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera stallite channel reported that Mubarak, Arafat and Jordan's King Abdullah will hold a meeting late Saturday in Sharm El Sheikh to discuss the latest situation in the Palestinian territories and the Egyptian-Jordanian peace plan, reported Al Jazeera satellite channel.
Jordan’s King is expected to arrive in the Red Sea resort for talks with the two leaders before heading to France for a two-day official visit.
Arafat arrived in Cairo on Friday and held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that Arafat and Moussa discussed "Israel's aggression against the Palestinians."
Arafat stressed his rejection of any amendment to the Egyptian-Jordanian plan, which is aimed at ending the escalating violence in the Palestinian territories and promoting a resumption of negotiations, WAFA said - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)