News

Arafat to call elections in January; Bush ramps up anti-Arafat rhetoric

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat challenged U.S. President George W. Bush on June 26, calling January elections that he is likely to win and expanding on his proposed reforms, while Bush increased pressure on the Palestinians to dump Arafat.

Bush threatened to withhold U.S. aid from the Palestinians unless they made the changes he has demanded.

Meanwhile, clashes continued in the Palestinian territories as Israel dug in for the long stay in the West Bank and prepared operations in the Gaza Strip.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told a news conference in Jericho, the only West Bank city not re-occupied by Israel, that presidential and legislative elections would be held between January 10 and 20 and local elections in March.

Erakat also promised a series of reforms, notably to the judiciary and security services, in the coming months.

Bush, in a long-awaited speech June 24 outlining his strategy for the troubled Middle East, told the Palestinians to vote out leaders "compromised by terror" to win U.S. support for an independent Palestinian state within three years.

He warned that the Palestinians could only expect support if they had new elected leaders, new institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors.

Shukan ST: July 5, 2002

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