West moves to defuse W.Asia crisis

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN), OCT. 4. While hectic diplomatic efforts have been mounted to defuse the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, violent confrontations continue on the ground.

At least seven more Palestinians are reported to have been killed since a ceasefire that came into effect in the early hours of yesterday collapsed by late afternoon.

Today, on the seventh day of the conflict, clashes continued between Palestinian civilians and Israeli security men at a number of places.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak and the Palestinian Authority President, Mr. Yasser Arafat have flown to Paris to meet the French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac and the U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright in an effort to restore peace.

Mr. Barak and Mr. Arafat have already met separately with the French President and the U.S. Secretary and they are scheduled to meet together in Ms. Albright's presence.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders will be flying to Cairo tomorrow to carry forward the diplomatic efforts with the Egyptian President, Mr. Hosni Mubarak.

The Palestinians have set three conditions for the talks. They want Israel to cease hostilities, withdraw its troops from the vicinity of Palestinian population centres and agree to an international enquiry into the cause for the confrontation.

From the fact that Israel had pulled some of its troops back during the short truce yesterday, it would appear that it will not have a problem in respect of two of the Palestinian demands.

However, Israel has said that it is not prepared to let the world probe into its internal affairs. This is, in fact, the main Palestinian demand and it is unclear as to how the impasse on this point can be sorted out.

While the leaders were busy in Paris clashes continued in the region. It appears that since yesterday the Israeli Arabs, who had joined their Palestinian brethren in their protests, have calmed down.

However, Palestinian youth continued to stone Israeli security pickets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from yesterday afternoon and most of today.

Yesterday, an ominous turn was given to the developments when Palestinians in civilian dress opened fire with automatic weapons on Israeli troops. Since they were in civilian dress it is not possible to accuse the Palestinian security forces of having waged war on the Israeli army.

All sides seem to be playing safe and describing these gunmen as members of different Palestinian political factions.

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Section  : International
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