Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Israelis to press talks despite Arab warnings Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 15:07:21 EST Message-ID: Lines: 59 \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Israelis to press talks despite Arab warnings \BY REUTERS \DT JERUSALEM JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Cabinet ministers said yesterday that Middle East peace talks would continue despite Arab warnings that the talks face collapse. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told reporters after the government's weekly Cabinet meeting: "There is no deadlock because there will be a continuation of the negotiations." Police Minister Moshe Shahal denied an Israeli news report that Palestinians at the talks in Washington gave the Jewish state an ultimatum in a letter handed to chief Israeli negotiator Elyakim Rubinstein. "The letter is being misquoted. I think that the Palestinians . . . will find an Israeli government who will deal seriously with all the questions," Mr. Shahal said. The newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday that Palestinians sent Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin a letter saying they would withdraw from the talks if no progress was achieved soon. In Tunis, chief Palestinian negotiator Haider Abdel-Shafi said yesterday that Palestinians are likely to attend the next round of the peace talks, scheduled to resume in Washington on Dec. 7, without demanding a delay. "We are still discussing the matter, but there is a tendency to go," Mr. Abdel-Shafi told reporters during a break in a meeting with PLO leaders about the peace talks. Israel and Syria have said they will attend the talks, but chief Syrian negotiator Mouwafak Allaf said last week the Arabs may pull out if no progress is achieved in four months. Arabs and Israelis appear to be waiting for President-elect Bill Clinton to rescue the slow-moving talks launched in Madrid nearly 13 months ago. Mr. Peres said French President Francois Mitterrand, due in the region this week, remained a friend to Israel despite urging the Jewish state to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization. Israel rejects talks with the PLO, considering it a "terrorist" organization. "He's entitiled to his views. This doesn't change the fact that he remains a very good and important friend of the state of Israel," Mr. Peres said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM