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Arafat in Favor of Resumption of Negotiations With Israel
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday he is in favor of a resumption of negotiations as early as possible to end the eight-month violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
"We have noted the importance of an action for all levels that aims at ending the military escalation and bringing (Israelis and Palestinians) back to negotiation table as early as possible," said Arafat following his meeting with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Arafat arrived in Paris at about midday local time, accompanied by Saeb Erakat, chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel. He will then meet with French President Jacques Chirac.
Before meeting Jospin at 1800 local time (1700 GMT), Arafat talked over telephone with United States President George W. Bush who urged the Palestinian side to "seize the opportunity offered by the Mitchell report."
During a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon earlier on Wednesday, Bush has urged Sharon to act in the same way.
Both Arafat and Sharon agreed with Bush' proposal to develop a framework for implementing the report's recommendations.
The report, announced Monday by the International Inquiry Committee headed by former U.S. senator George Mitchell, calls for immediate cease-fire, a freeze on Jewish settlements and more determined action against terrorism from the Palestinians.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Tuesday that the U.S. fully supports the report.
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