Yasser Arafat addresses Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza.

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	Prime Minister's Office
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	Independent Media Review Analysis (IMRA)

Yasser Arafat yesterday called upon Israel to resume peace talks immediately from the point where they left off. Speaking in an address to the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City, Arafat stated that the Palestinians "are ready to move forward in the negotiations with the Israeli government."

In his speech, Arafat appealed to the Israeli public and its elected government, claiming that he understood "their need for security and stability." Arafat called for the Israelis to understand the needs and the rights of the Palestinian people, by easing the closure, releasing funds to the Palestinian Authority and stopping the use of forbidden weapons. Arafat repeated his call for an international force to work towards easing the violence between the two sides.

"Our hearts are open and our hands are stretched out, for the 'Peace of the Brave'," Arafat said.

Palestinians had billed Arafat's speech as a major policy statement. Israelis generally felt that the speech broke little new ground and were upset that it did not call for a reduction or cessation of Palestinian violence, which is Sharon's condition for a resumption of peace talks.

Sources close to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres were reportedly saddened by Arafat's claim that Israel was using weapons containing depleted uranium to battle the Palestinians. However, Peres reportedly found positive signs in Arafat's remarks. A senior diplomatic source was quoted in the Israeli press as saying that Arafat made a distinction between signed agreements, which must be respected, and informal understandings such as those reached at Camp David, "which must be taken into consideration."

President Moshe Katsav expressed disappointment with Arafat's address. "Yasser Arafat must decide soon if he is a terrorist or a friend," Katsav said.

No plans for Arafat-Sharon meeting
Despite Arafat's address and the recent exchange of messages between the two, there are no immediate plans for a meeting between Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon. Sources in Sharon's office said no preparations were under way to organize such a rendezvous, contradicting statements made earlier by senior Palestinian officials.

PA cabinet minister Nabil Amr told Reuters yesterday that attempts were being made to organize a meeting between the two leaders. "We cannot set a date for that meeting, but there is a possibility."

Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh confirmed yesterday that there are contacts between Arafat's office and Sharon's, but said that no meeting has been set.

Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin reiterated Sharon's willingness to meet Arafat, but that the meeting would not take place "as long as terror activities aren't prevented [and] as long as there is no declaration of an end to terror."

"There are contacts all the time regarding other things. It is important that there are channels of communication all the time," Uri Shani, head of the Prime Minister's bureau told Army Radio this morning.

Israel Radio reported that Omri Sharon, Sharon's son and aide, was continuing contacts with Khaled Salam, a senior Arafat adviser.

Raanan Gissin, a senior adviser to the Prime Minister, pointed out yesterday that the continued contacts with the Palestinians do not amount to a renewal of negotiations.

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