Arafat’s Officials Blast Israel For Delaying Talks

Yasser Arafat’s self-rule government sharply criticized Israel on Saturday for delaying negotiations on the withdrawal of its troops from West Bank towns.

Israel TV reported that a war of words between Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Arafat during last week’s Cairo summit led to the cancellation of a joint appearance by the four leaders at the meeting.

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Hussein looked on in bewilderment as Rabin accused Arafat of not doing enough to foil Islamic militant attacks on Israelis, the TV said. Arafat responded with his own accusations.

Israel has sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip since a Jan. 22 suicide bombing by Islamic activists that killed 21 Israelis.

Referring to the closure, Arafat’s Cabinet said Saturday that it understands Israeli security needs. “But this does not mean delaying the IsraeliPalestinian agreement and harming the entire peace process,” it said after its weekly meeting.

“To our regret, the Israelis are still delaying implementation of the second phase (of autonomy) and are not fulfilling their obligations … and this will place the whole peace process in a very dangerous situation,” it said.

Palestinians hoped Israeli troops would withdraw last summer from the occupied territory. But Israeli officials have said they will not pull troops out until Arafat does more to foil Islamic militants from PLO-ruled areas.