By Susan Sevareid
Associated Press
JERUSALEM – Israel and the Palestinians approved a U.S. plan Sunday that would free Yasser Arafat from his besieged West Bank headquarters and place six men wanted by Israel in a Palestinian jail under the watchful eyes of American and British guards.
Israel’s Cabinet adopted President Bush’s proposal in a 17-9 vote. Senior Arafat aides said the Palestinian leader also accepted the plan, which ultimately would free him from the sights of Israeli snipers crouched in the buildings around him. Arafat’s compound has been under a monthlong Israeli siege and he has not been able to travel freely since December.
“We expect the siege imposed on President Arafat’s office to be lifted the day after tomorrow,” said Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo. He said “technical details” would be discussed today with British experts.
Accepting the plan, according to an Israeli Cabinet minister, was important to avoid angering the United States over another Cabinet decision: Ministers decided to bar for now a U.N. fact-finding mission from investigating allegations surrounding Israeli army actions in a West Bank refugee camp.
After seven hours of Cabinet discussion, Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin briefed reporters, saying the United Nations had reneged on agreements with Israel. The team’s composition and intentions, he said, made it inevitable that Israel would be unjustly blamed.
“This awful United Nations committee is out to get us and is likely to smear Israel and to force us to do things which Israel is not prepared even to hear about, such as interrogating soldiers and officers who took part in the fighting,” he said. “No country in the world would agree to such a thing.”
U.N. chief Kofi Annan hoped Israel would reverse its decision at a Cabinet meeting today.
Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Ahmed Abdel Rahman accused Israel of trying to make the committee meaningless. “They claim there is nothing to hide,” he said. “What then is the explanation of all these obstacles in front of the committee to prevent it from starting its mission?”
The main sticking points had been Israel’s request it decide which Israelis would testify, and that the team would not investigate Israel’s military operations beyond events in the Jenin refugee camp, a militant stronghold that was scene of the fiercest battles of the campaign.
Twenty-three Israeli soldiers died in Jenin; the Palestinian death toll is uncertain, with about 48 bodies found so far.
Meanwhile, Bush heralded “a hopeful day” after brokering the deal to end the Ramallah siege.
“Chairman Arafat should now seize this opportunity to act decisively in word and in deed against terror directed at Israeli citizens,” Bush said. “He hasn’t earned my respect. He must earn my respect by leading.”
Bush’s compromise plan would allow Arafat to travel in the Palestinian territories. Until the deal, Israel had said it would not allow Arafat out of his shell-shattered West Bank compound until it had custody of the six wanted men inside with him. Five of the six were wanted in connection with the October assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi. The sixth was accused of trafficking arms from Iran to the Palestinian territories.
Bush’s proposal, according to Israeli officials, would have Israel standing by its “legitimate demand” that the six wanted men be handed over to Israel. But as long as British jailers and American representatives ensure they remain imprisoned, they apparently could stay in an isolated jail in Palestinian territory.
Four of the six were convicted last week in a hastily convened, one-session Palestinian court and received sentences of one to 18 years; the two others have yet to stand trial in any court.
Also on Sunday:
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