Israeli and Palestinian leaders hold behind-the-scenes talks
Palestinian leaders have been holding top-level talks with Israelis in recent days, it's been revealed as Yasser Arafat calls for further discussions.
Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he has been confined for the past two months, Yasser Arafat said the two sides were holding talks on both security and political issues.
Israel says it will not let Arafat leave Ramallah until he arrests more militants, and has stationed several tanks less than 100 meters from his compound for the past two weeks.
He still receives delegations at his headquarters and addressed a Palestinian rally in the West Bank city of Nablus by telephone.
"Peace and security will never be achieved in this region by Israel through siege, occupation and settlements, but by the full withdrawal from our lands," he said in comments relayed to the crowd over a loudspeaker.
In the latest high-level meeting between the two sides, Palestinian parliamentary speaker Ahmed Qureia met Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in New York on Friday, Palestinian officials said.
"I think there must be constant talks on all levels, through all channels," Peres told Israeli television in New York.
The dovish Peres has continued to hold regular talks with Palestinian leaders despite the overall deterioration of relations and the persistent fighting now in its 17th month.
Qureia, meanwhile, was one of three senior Palestinian officials who held secret talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday, a Palestinian source said. It was Sharon's first meeting with a top-level Palestinian delegation since he became prime minister a year ago.
In the meeting with Sharon, Palestinians said they stressed their desire for a restoration of political negotiations on a Mideast settlement, while the Israeli leader has focused on the need to first end the fighting.
