Arafat Says Israelis Offering “Peanuts” Rejects Limited Pullback, Sees Hope After Talks With Clinton

Yasser Arafat wound up his talks here Friday rejecting as “peanuts” an Israeli offer for a limited pullback on the West Bank and praising President Clinton’s endorsement of Palestinian aspirations.

“We cannot accept it,” Arafat said angrily of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer to cede up to 10 percent of the territory if the Palestinian Authority took tougher actions against terrorists.

Israel has turned over Gaza and 27 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians. On Thursday, Arafat demanded an additional 60 percent. Netanyahu said that ceding more land would expose Israel to attack and that it would be “suicidal.”

Arafat on Friday accused Netanyahu of widespread violations of Israel’s agreements with the Palestinian Authority, but said he was going home hopeful “we can break the deadlock” in Mideast negotiations.

A statement Thursday by Clinton supporting Palestinian aspirations “to live as a free people” gave Arafat a boost.