The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) rejected on Wednesday a 12-hour deadline given by Israel to arrest Palestinian activists who masterminded attacks on Israel.
A high-ranking PNA official who asked not to be identified told Xinhua that instead of giving the PNA a deadline, Israel must start immediately implementing Mitchell report recommendations and Tenet's plan.
"How can Israel give us a deadline and ask us to arrest activists while there are no guarantees that its F-16 warplanes and helicopters will stop shelling the PNA establishment?" asked the official.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign minister Shimon Peres discussed earlier Wednesday over phone the current security situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported.
Israeli radio reported that Peres asked Arafat to start immediately arresting Palestinian activists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad (holy war) who masterminded attacks and send suicide bombers into Israel.
Palestinian sources said that Arafat told Peres that the PNA would continue doing its best to prevent more bombing attacks in Israel and implement the ceasefire agreement.
The sources said that Peres telephoned Arafat following the suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, adding that Arafat asked Peres that the Israeli army should stop its attacks and air strikes on the PNA and the Palestinian people.
PNA security sources said that more than 120 members of Hams, Islamic Jihad (holy war) and the Popular Front to Liberate Palestine (PFLP) in the West Bank and Gaza have been arrested in the past few days.
According to Israel Radio, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was briefed by Peres on the phone talks with Arafat, adding that Sharon accepted the idea of giving Arafat and the PNA a chance to arrest activists and stop attacks on Israel.
The radio said that Sharon put five conditions for the PNA in order to end violence to achieve calmness and start implementing Mitchell report.
The conditions include a serious arrest of those who dispatched suicide bombers and masterminded attacks against Israel, disarming Hamas and Islamic Jihad, collecting all illegal arms and destroying it, preventing more attacks on Israel and putting an end to incitement.
Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Xinhua the PNA is completely committed to the peace process and to all signed deals and agreements, adding that the PNA is ready to implement all of them.
"But Israel also has to implement those agreements, stop aggressions and air strikes, end closure and pullback Israeli army forces from all occupied Palestinian-controlled areas," said Abu Rudeineh.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat also told Xinhua:"We reject the Israeli dictations and threats that won't give any benefits."
"What is needed from the whole world right now is to find a mechanism of commitments to implement Mitchell report's recommendations and Tenet's plan," he said.
Israel Sets 12-Hour Deadline for Arafat to Make Arrests
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has decided to grant Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat 12 hours to arrest terrorist figures in the Palestinian controlled West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In a series of telephone calls this afternoon between Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, the Palestinian leader complained Israeli air strikes were preventing him from making arrests of Palestinian terror leaders.
Peres consulted with Sharon and it was decided that Arafat would be granted 12 hours to mobilize his forces and arrest Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists wanted by Israel for involvement in terrorist actions.
Israel has provided Arafat with a list of wanted Palestinian terrorists, Israel Radio reported.
"Yasser Arafat called me and he told me that he wants to take matters into his own hands but that we are not letting him do so," Peres said.
Peres said: "I told him (Arafat), 'Listen, things depend now on you and only upon you. In the coming 12 hours, you will determine how the Palestinian (National) Authority is regarded. We are giving you authority, we are giving you a list of 36 people who, as we know, are terrorist leaders. And I strongly recommend that you put them in jail.'"
However, Arafat stressed that Israel needs to hold off and grant him an opportunity to act, noting that Palestinian forces have arrested 131 militants since Saturday night's suicide bombings in Jerusalem.
(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2001)
