Saudi spokesman blasts Arafat

RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Saudi Arabia are at odds over the results of the Camp David summit.

Saudi officials have not publicly criticized Arafat. But a leading Saudi editor blasted the Palestinian chairman for agreeing to attend the summit and then backing out of an agreement.

Abdul Rahman Rashid accused Arafat of being dissuaded from signing an agreement with Israel only by the death threats he received. Rashid, editor of the Saudi-owned London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily said Arafat was tempted by his penchant for sitting with world leaders such as U.S. President Bill Clinton.

"He wants to be the guest of the American president and have dinner every evening with the prime minister of Israel," Rashed said, "But he did not want to offer anything. So why did he go to Camp David at all? He is not ready for a political solution, or prepared to face his comrades in the Palestine National Council, to Hamas or to the people in the streets of Gaza. We do not understand how he can aspire to a solution that does not anger anyone."

The attack was the first public expression by a Saudi spokesman that the kingdom was upset with Arafat. Egypt is also said to have been dismayed by Arafat's negotiations at Camp David, but has kept silent.

Arab diplomatic sources said the Saudis have relayed their anger to the Palestinians. They said Arafat will try to assuage the Saudis during his trip to Riyad next week.

"I want to make it clear to the Saudis and Arabs," Arafat told the English-language Saudi Gazette, "that I am not responsible for the failure in Camp David because the Palestinians have basic principles that they cannot concede."

Egypt is reviewing the prospects of an Arab League summit to discuss the Camp David talks. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has met Arafat and will meet Syrian President Assad, Bahrain Emir Hamad Bin Issa and Jordan's King Abdullah over the next week, Arab diplomatic sources said.

Arafat adviser Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Arafat will support an Arab summit. "We are for an Arab summit and the Palestinian leadership will examine all the options and the probabilities in the next few days," Abu Rudeineh. "President Arafat will make significant political moves in few weeks and we hope that these moves will lead to a united Palestinian, Arab, and world position in order to confront all the challenges that will face the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, particularly with regard to Jerusalem."