Palestine leaders renounce

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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, second from left, holds up piece of ribbon from the inauguration of Gaza International Airport Monday as President Clinton put his piece of riboon into his pocket. At far left is Arafat's wife, Suha, and at right is first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Palestine leaders renounce call for Israel's destruction GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Stirring Palestinian passions - told reporters, Arafat must re- fighters and other top Palestinians, nounce plans to declare statehood Clinton said the peace process has statehood, President Clinton stood and take steps to end the violence brought rewards: elections and self- witness Monday as hundreds of government in Gaza and the West Palestinian leaders renounced a call Just as Netanyahu told Clinton Bank, Israeli troop redeployments, for the destruction of Israel.

Clinton urged "legitimate rights for Pales- on Sunday that the Palestinians were violating peace relations with Washington and a accords, Palestinian airport. tinians, real security for Israel." Arafat told the president Monday also acknowledged The Palestin- ian vote - regis- that Israel was guilty of violations.

Palestinian bitterness over Israeli CLOSEUP show of hands and applause - re- moved a contentious issue dating 1964 from the crisis- shrouded Mideast peace process. Clinton, Palestinian leader Yass- er Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned three-way meeting early today.

At stake was the revival of the Wye land-for-security nearing collapse with Israelis and the Palestinians accusing each other of violating the deal. told reporters in Jerusalem that the Palestinian vote would "lead to a real peace, a last- not a minute-long But at the same time. he He called on Israel to release jailed restrictions on people and com- Palestinians "our heroes in merce, land confiscation and Israeli prison." Netanyahu has vowed not to release prisoners he regards as settlements.

He said Israel, for its part, has justifiable concerns about Palestinian violence. Secretary of State Madeleine Tentative plans for a three-way Albright urged Netanyahu to move meeting at the Erez border crossing ahead with West Bank troop with- between Israel and Gaza were drawals. abandoned Monday night. edged Israel probably conduct a pullback by Friday.

"We White House spokesman Joe hope very much that it can be as Lockhart said all three leaders de- cided to postpone the meeting until close to the schedule as possible," early this morning, "because of the she said. logistics of trying to put it togeth- Pressing both sides to reconcile, Clinton said, "I think there will be But an Israeli official, speaking more breakdowns, frankly. on condition of anonymity, said think there will be more break- Clinton had wanted Israel to give throughs as well." Addressing former guernilla something to the Palestinians in exchange for the PNC action

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"Palestine leaders renounce," Connecticut Post, 15 December 1998. Covering Palestine archive, CP-1998-011. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-1998-011