Saturday, September 28, 2002

Israel Says Target in Gaza Raid Was Wounded, but Escaped
Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, remained under Israeli siege in Ramallah today. The two sides did not negotiate, but there were hints that the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was seeking a way out of the stalemate.

The United Nations Security Council has demanded that Israel release its grip on Mr. Arafat, and President Bush has said the Israeli action is hindering democratic change for the Palestinians.

The Israeli government has demanded the handing over of 19 men it says are confined with Mr. Arafat. But Israeli news reports indicated today that the government might be satisfied with the transfer of the men to a Palestinian prison, an alternative Israeli officials had previously rejected.

Palestinian officials say they will agree to nothing less than an Israeli withdrawal. But Mr. Sharon, who has described the wanted men in the compound as "the biggest terrorists that exist," might find it politically difficult to back down. Israel has not supplied a list of the wanted men.

"It's a complete standoff," said a Western diplomat here. "Arafat refuses to speak to the Israelis. It's now pretty apparent that both sides want to get out, but Arafat has the upper hand. Arafat may be under military siege, but Israel is under political siege."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/28/international/middleeast/28MIDE.html

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