Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office denied any plans had been made for a ceasefire meeting to be held on Sunday between US peace envoy Anthony Zinni and Israeli and Palestinian officials.
"The Prime Minister's bureau clarifies that no decision has been made about the holding of a meeting tomorrow," Sharon's office said.
Sharon met with Zinni Saturday night in southern Israel, after which the Israeli government stated it planned to coordinate a high-level trilateral meeting with the Palestinians and Zinni Sunday for an immediate declaration of a ceasefire.
But the Palestinian side then said it had not been informed of the meeting and insisted Israeli troops must first pullout from all areas under Palestinian self-rule.
In its statement, Israel blamed the prior reports of a Sunday ceasefire meeting on "media outlets," despite earlier confirmation of Sharon's plans for a meeting from Israeli government spokesmen, AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Sunday in an interview to Israel Radio that the Israeli forces would leave Areas A when the Palestinians make the necessary security arrangements. "If the Palestinians want to get the territories, they must be responsible for them," Peres said.
On Sunday morning, Israel said an elite unit arrested two Palestinians in the West Bank village of Salfit. The two were planning to carry out a suicide bombing attack in the very near future, Israeli sources said.
One of the suspected activists already appeared in a video tape to be screened after the suicide bombing was to take place, according to Israel’s Army Radio. (Albawaba.com)
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