FORMENTOR, Spain (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat have met at an economic conference at a secluded Spanish island resort but were not planning formal talks. (Read photo caption below)Aides poured cold water on speculation Peres and Arafat would hold their first formal meeting since reaffirming a cease-fire on September 26 that has since been undermined by a fresh cycle of tit-for-tat fighting.
Israeli occupation forces are still holding on to Palestinian-ruled areas in the northern West Bank, raided in a sweeping military operation after Palestinian leftist Resistance men assassinated a far-right cabinet minister two weeks ago.
Israeli newspapers said the army had intended to withdraw from parts of the Palestinian-ruled city of Ramallah early next week. The possible pullout could be shelved, however, following the killing of an Israeli by Palestinian Resistance men near Ramallah on Friday. Israeli occupation sources said Palestinian Resistance men opened fire near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah, before escaping into Palestinian-controlled territory.
Palestinian security sources said that Israeli occupation troops had also surrounded two Palestinian-ruled villages near the West Bank town of Jenin while two airforce helicopters hovered overhead and flares lit up the sky.
Israeli occupation sources told Reuters that the occupation army was searching for Palestinian militants who had set off an explosive device in the area earlier. No one was hurt in the blast.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat(L) shakes hands with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres(R) in front of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during the Euro-Mediterranean forum in the resort of Formentor on the Spanish island of Majorca November 2, 2001. The forum is focusing on the Middle East crisis. (Reuters)