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Zinni gives peace a chance Ñ for 48 hours

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, December 10, 2001

TEL AVIV Ñ U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni has submitted an ultimatum to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Zinni has told Israeli and PA leaders that his proposals to both sides must be accepted within two days. If either side rejects his proposals, then Zinni would leave the Middle East.

Israeli and Palestinian sources said the proposals were submitted during a trilateral security meeting on Sunday. Soon after Zinni submitted the proposals he left the meeting in Jerusalem.

If within 48 hours, there isn't real progress, I will consider leaving," Zinni was quoted as saying by an Israeli source.

Zinni is scheduled to meet Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Monday. Israeli officials said Sharon wants to keep Zinni in the region to prevent a further escalation of violence.

Earlier, Sharon convened his security Cabinet to discuss future operations as well as whether PA Chairman Yasser Arafat will be allowed to fly to Doha to attend the Organization of Islamic Conference summit in Qatar. Israeli officials said the Cabinet agreed on several undisclosed steps against the Palestinian insurgency.

Arafat, however, did not issue a request to leave the Palestinian areas. Instead, PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath left for Qatar.

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