Report: Arafat pushing for Madrid-style peace conference

[Gimel]

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies



Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is pushing for a new international peace conference, similar to that held in Madrid in 1991, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Kabas reported on Sunday.

The conference, which would probably take place in Cairo, would discuss a permanent-status agreement and would seek to end the cycle of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

The paper quotes close sources to Arafat as saying that the chairman is holding intensive discussions with his top aides and plans to bring the initiative to the Palestine Liberation Organization's Central Committee for approval in the coming days. He is also expected to bring up the issue during an Arab summit in Tunis in March.

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It looks like Arafat is dismissing Sharon's plan as well. Another peace conference. When will he get it through his head that what is neaded is action from the PA?