JERUSALEM Ñ Israel is preparing to end the siege imposed on
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Israeli officials said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister
Shimon Peres have discussed the terms of allowing Arafat to leave his
headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah after more than two months.
The officials said Arafat is moving to fulfill the terms for his release.
On Thursday, Israeli and PA officials said three suspected killers of
Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi were arrested by the Palestinian
Authority. Sharon had demanded the arrest of the suspects, members of the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, before he lifts the siege on
Arafat.
The officials said Arafat could be allowed to travel to the Arab League
summit in Beirut on March 27. The officials said Sharon first wants the
three PFLP suspects to be prosecuted.
"Our demand, which we presented all along, has been for their
detention," Sharon said. "Since the inner Cabinet made a decision, the
matter will return to the inner cabinet, which will decide the issue."
Arafat's release is also being supported by Israeli Defense Minister
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. But Sharon aides are said to be concerned that Arafat
would be strengthened by meetings abroad with Arab and Western leaders.
The officials said Israel's siege on Arafat has been discussed with the
United States. In turn, Saudi Arabia has urged Washington to allow Arafat to
leave for the Arab summit and end Israeli attacks on PA installations.
Sharon has approved a plan to construct a security barrier between
Israeli and Palestinian areas along the West Bank. The plan, which will take
at least a year to complete, was voted by the Cabinet earlier this month and
includes fences as well as electronic sensors. Under the plan, Jewish
communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would remain.