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Yasser Arafat: the peace process has reached an impasse
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Arafat Warns of Further Unrest
The Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, has thanked Britain for its efforts to revive the Middle East peace process, which he warned had reached an "impasse".
Speaking at a conference in London, he predicted further unrest in the Middle East unless the peace process made some progress. He accused the Israeli government of breaking the terms of the Oslo peace agreement and said it would fuel "fanatics on both sides" this summer.
"It is a question of peace or confusion. We are not asking for the moon. We are asking for what has been signed in the White House to be implemented accurately and honestly," he said.
Mr Arafat is in London to lobby for further European help in reviving the
peace process, stalled since April following Israel's decision to build a new Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem. He said Palestinians were furious and were asking him: "Is this the settlement which you signed? Is this peace?"
Positive and Important Discussions
Mr Arafat was speaking after meeting Tony Blair in London on Monday afternoon. He described their discussion as "positive and very important", and paid tribute to the Prime Minister for "what he is doing with all his capability to protect the peace process".
The Palestinians are keen for the EU to play a more active role in the Middle East. Mr Blair has indicated that when Britain takes over the EU Presidency in January, the region will be a central foreign policy priority.
In a statement, the Prime Minister declared that "the continued building of Israeli settlements is not only illegal under international law, but a major obstacle in the way of peace."
Making clear Britain's determination to move the peace process forward, Mr Blair underlined his support for the efforts of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to restart the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. A lasting peace, he said, had to be "based on the two key principles of land for peace and the right of Israel to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries."
Mr Blair assured Mr Arafat that Britain would continue to provide the Palestinians with aid, currently amounting to £25 million each year. And he urged the veteran PLO leader to do his utmost to contain violence and respect human rights. Over the last year, violations of human rights in the Palestinian-ruled territories have met with sharp international condemnation.
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