Palestinians like Clinton proposal for deployment of international forces

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority praised the U.S. bridging proposals relayed by President Bill Clinton and said they include the deployment of international forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

PA Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said Clinton's proposals contained positive elements. These, he said, included the deployment of international forces as part of a mechanism to guarantee any Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.

"These proposals are aimed at bridging the gaps between the two sides and addressing all the issues in a way to reach a formula for a final agreement," Abed Rabbo said. "These proposals include ideas regarding guarantees to implement the agreement once we reach such an agreement including the deployment of international forces."

The minister told a news conference on Sunday that the Palestinian leadership is examining Clinton's proposals and hopes to relay an answer by Thursday. Abed Rabbo acknowledged that the U.S. president was urging for a peace settlement that would end all Palestinian claims on Israel.

"There might be some positive elements in these proposals," Abed Rabbo said. "But we will study them very carefully because we are talking about issues that would deal with an agreement regarding the future and the destiny of the Palestinian areas and the Palestinian people for generations to come."

"Until now there is not enough flexibility in the Israeli position to encourage us to say we are close to reaching an agreement," the minister added.

Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Ahmed Qurei rejected the Clinton proposals. Qurei, an architect of the 1993 Oslo accords, said he opposes the U.S. proposal that the Palestinians recognize the Jewish link to the Temple Mount and concessions on refugee return.

On Monday, the Palestinian revolt leadership, which includes both Fatah and Islamic opposition leaders -- issued a communique that warned that the Palestinians will not honor any agreement signed with Israel that concedes on Palestinian rights.

Palestinian sources said during his talks in Washington Clinton warned that this would be his last effort to achieve a peace treaty in the Middle East. He said if the Palestinians reject his proposals he will discontinue his drive for an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.

Meanwhile, violence continued overnight Monday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians detonated bombs in several areas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers responded with gunfire.