RAMALLAH, Palestinie (Islamweb & News Agencies)-Palestinian Resistance commanders on Friday dismissed Arafat's call for calm to avoid undermining US envoy Anthony Zinni, saying their acts were legitimate responses to occupation army killings of Palestinian civilians, particularly in a recent offensive into self-rule zones.(Read photo caption below) Arafat, described by aides as angry over on-going Resistance attacks which he felt impaired the Palestinian cause for independence, said the Palestinian leadership remained committed to making a success of Zinni's third attempt to pin down a truce.
In Washington, a State Department official said Powell had told Arafat by telephone he must punish the leaders of groups responsible for recent attacks and called on him "to condemn Thursday and Friday acts publicly and personally in the strongest manner."
Palestinian officials say, however, that the Israeli army's destruction of Palestinian security infrastructure, closures of towns and clampdowns on main roads have made it difficult for Palestinian security services to track down and jail Resistance activists.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said earlier that Israel had posed unacceptable conditions for activating a cease-fire plan charted in June 2001 by U.S. CIA Director George Tenet.
Erekat did not elaborate. But Israeli political sources said differences touched on a timetable for realizing the truce and progressing to a broader U.S.-backed plan for defusing mutual mistrust and resuscitating talks on a final peace settlement.
"We expressed our willingness to implement Tenet's plan as it was written and not according to Israeli conditions and dictation," Erekat told reporters.
Tenet's plan envisions a cease-fire, an Israeli army pullback to positions held before the start of the uprising and arrests of militants by Arafat's security services.
PHOTO CAPTION:
A Palestinian kicks a tear gas canister fired by an Israeli soldier during clashes in the West Bank City of Ramallah, March 22, 2002. REUTERS/Mahfouz Abu Tu