Military

DATE=11/07/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-268937

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

INTRO: Palestinian leaders are continuing to press for an international protection force, despite strong Israeli objections, in an effort to end nearly six weeks of bloody violence. V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel in Jerusalem reports the move comes as Palestinian President Yasser Arafat prepares to leave for Washington for meetings with President Clinton.

TEXT: Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says the Palestinians are calling for an international peacekeeping force in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in clashes between protesters and Israeli soldiers.

/// EREKAT ACT ///

The way we see it is that we want to save the lives of our people. The way we see it is we want international protection.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Erekat says Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat plans to raise the issue of an international protection force when he meets President Clinton in Washington on Thursday. Mr. Arafat is also expected to discuss the proposal in meetings scheduled on his way to Washington with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Palestinians are proposing that about two-thousand observers operate in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

Israeli government spokesman Nachman Shai says Israel flatly rejects such a proposal.

/// SHAI ACT ///

We absolutely reject any U-N or international presence in this region, and especially, of course, in the territories in the West Bank and Gaza. We will proceed in the peace process the way it was done so far, which is direct negotiations between us and the Palestinians, with of course an American umbrella, but without any international involvement whatsoever.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Shai says the number of violent incidents in the Palestinian territories has dropped by up to 40 percent since a truce was brokered last week. He reiterated Israel's demand that the Palestinians impose a cease-fire.

In an effort to reduce casualties, the Palestinians launched a campaign to keep school children under the age of 16 from taking part in confrontations with Israeli soldiers.

Israel on Tuesday allowed the limited reopening of the Palestinian airport in the Gaza Strip. A German plane evacuated about two-dozen injured Palestinians to Germany for medical treatment. (Signed)

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