Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said Saturday on his return from a tour of Asian countries that the question of Jerusalem must be resolved before agreeing to end the conflict with Israel.
"Before ending the conflict, the most important thing is to solve the question of Jerusalem," Arafat told reporters in Gaza City.
Jerusalem was the main stumbling block in the Camp David summit, which broke off without any agreement on July 25th.
The Palestinians want sovereignty over east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied from Jordan in 1967 and subsequently annexed, a move never recognized internationally. They also want to make it the capital of their future state.
Israel is willing to accept Palestinian sovereignty over some areas of east Jerusalem, but not the entire area taken in 1967. The question of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the holiest place to Jews and the third holiest place to Islam remains a key sticking point in the talks.
Arafat said his trip was aimed at gaining support for the Palestinian positions in the talks.
"My tour to Asian countries was important ... to push forward the process of supporting and standing with the Palestinians in this sensitive period."
When asked if he believes there will be another summit, Arafat said the decision was in US President Bill Clinton's hands.
Meanwhile US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross looked at "ways of building on Camp David" with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Saturday in Alexandria, a US embassy spokesman in Cairo said.
Ross who met with Barak Friday was expected to meet with Arafat. US and Palestinian officials told AFP that the time and place for the meeting had not been determined -- GAZA CITY (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
