JPost

(11:00) Report: Egypt warning Israel not to harm Arafat

Egypt will send a senior diplomat to Israel later today carrying a strongly worded warning to Israel not to harm Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, according to an Arab media report.

The message also includes a warning to cease missile attacks against PA targets, according to a report appearing in the London-based, Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

Arafat called Egptian President Hosni Mubarak two days ago asking for his assistance.

In related news, Jordanian King Abdullah II called US Secretary of State Colin Powell to express his criticism of the Israeli attacks.

Abdullah said negotiations were the only way to reach a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, andn called on Washington to take a more active part in calming the region.

The Jordanian monarch made a similar call to Turkey, Israel Radio reports.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, his hands now tied somewhat by the cabinet's decision that the Palestinian Authority a "terror-supporting entity," said in Bucharest yesterday that Israel does not view Muslims or Palestinians as its enemy.

"Our enemy is terror," he said.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2001