Good News Gus. Arafat is at last getting the respect he deserves. lets all hope that this change in attitude keeps up.
Cheney's attitude toward Arafat provokes Palestinian anger
March 18, 2002, 07:01 PM
JERUSALEM (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney's decision not to schedule a meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a trip to Israel provoked anger among the Palestinians even though the American stance is not altogether a surprise.
The Palestinian Authority's response was a threat to snub Cheney, even though senior US officials have not completely ruled out a meeting between Arafat and the vice president, who arrived Monday afternoon.
However, Cheney's position is in keeping with the severe stance towards Arafat maintained by US President George W. Bush since he came to office.
Cheney, one of Bush's most trusted officials, flew here as part of an 11-nation swing aimed essentially at whipping up Arab support for Washington's "war on terrorism" and possible military action against Iraq.
The American later met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and was to hold talks with President Moshe Katsav, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer on Tuesday.
Palestinian officials expressed surprise that Cheney would sit down to discuss peace with Sharon but not with Arafat.
"We are really surprised that a US vice president coming to the region to discuss serious issues, mainly the peace process, intends to meet with one and not the other," Palestinian information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.
"It is the first time such a thing happens, that is why we have decided that Palestinian officials will not take part in any meeting with Cheney," he added.
Arafat's last visit to the White House came in early 2001 during former president Bill Clinton's last term in power.
Washington has frequently said Arafat should control and prevent Palestinian militant groups from carrying out suicide bombings and attacks which target Israeli civilians.
At the same time, the Bush administration did not echoed the Palestinians' anger at Israel's decision to keep Arafat confined to his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah since December 3.
The restriction has since been eased, but not to the extent to allow the Palestinian leader to travel abroad.
Barely more than an hour after arriving in Israel Monday, Cheney publicly called on Arafat "to live up to his commitment and renounce once and for all violence as a political weapon.
"Only then can an atmosphere be created that is conducive to achieving the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," he said.
The reluctance of the Americans to allow Arafat to meet their vice president also drew a sharp response from top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
"How can you explain that the US vice president, who is coming to the region to look for peace, will meet with Sharon and not Arafat?
"I don't know with whom he wants to make peace," Erakat told AFP, as the highest-level security talks between the two sides since an unprecedented wave of violence broke out three weeks ago were held in Jerusalem.
The Israeli-Palestinian high security commission convened under the aegis of US envoy Anthony Zinni, who is on his third mission to the region aiming to bring about a ceasefire in the nearly 18 months of fighting.
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