Sharon Opposes Arab Lawmakers Meeting Radical Palestinian Leader

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Thursday called on judicial authorities to take legal actions against two Arab lawmakers for meeting with a radical Palestinian leader, Israel Radio reported.

Ahmed Tibi from the Arab Movement for Renewal and Hadash Party Chairman Muhammad Barakeh Wednesday held a meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Abed al-Rahim Malukh, deputy general general of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Tibi confirmed the meeting on Thursday, saying that the four men discussed a new Mideast initiative by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence.

The meeting had caused an outcry in the Israeli political establishment as the PFLP had claimed responsibility for the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi on October 17, in retaliation for the killing of its leader Abu Ali Mustafa by Israeli forces in late August.

Tibi and Barakeh came under sharp attacks from right-wing lawmakers Thursday while Sharon said that they have to face legal consequences.

Tibi and Barakeh, however, argued that Malukh "is an important political leader."

Tibi, a former advisor to Arafat, also said that Malukh is not connected to the assassination of Ze'evi, adding that according to his knowledge, Malukh is not on Israel's wanted list.

Israeli Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein will decide in the coming days whether to order a police investigation into the issue.

( November 23, 2001)