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U.S. mediator tries to break Mideast deadlock
Israelis, Palestinians clash in Hebron
December 22, 1996
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT)HEBRON, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinians hurled stones and bottles at Israeli troops Sunday as tensions escalated in the increasingly volatile West Bank town of Hebron. Meanwhile, U.S. peace envoy Dennis Ross met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in hopes of reviving negotiations over the troubled city.
The clashes followed the arrests of several Palestinians after two fire bombs were tossed at a Jewish home, Palestinian reporters said. No damages or injuries were reported.
A phalanx of Israeli troops in riot gear fanned through the city, closing Palestinian stores and imposing a curfew. Palestinians responded with a hail of stones and empty bottles.
The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the incidents, the latest violence in the city Israel was to have pulled out of in March under previous peace agreements. On Saturday, a melee between hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians left at least one Palestinian injured and several arrested.
Arafat pleased with talks
Ross arrived in the region Saturday on an urgent mission to revive the flagging peace process. He went straight into meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in self-ruled Gaza.
"My purpose right now is to have a chance to talk to the leaders to see what can be done to energize the process," Ross said.
Arafat, who earlier in the week voiced doubts about Ross' objectivity, met the mediator for more than two hours Sunday. No agreement was reached on how to implement the overdue Israeli troop withdrawal from Hebron, but Arafat called the meeting a step in the right direction.
"It was very constructive and fruitful and an important meeting," he said. "We discussed how to push the peace process forward in all means."
Arafat's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said Ross brought several ideas aimed at closing a deal on Hebron.
But Israel radio quoted Ross as saying he didn't expect a breakthrough in the talks. The envoy also reportedly told Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy that Arafat was losing faith in the process and that a "breakdown in confidence" was the main problem delaying an agreement.
Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of foot-dragging in talks on the West Bank town, 80 percent of which was due to have been handed over to Arafat's Palestinian Authority months ago.
Negotiators for both sides met again on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. Netanyahu wants a deal signed in 1995 changed in order to ensure the safety of some 500 Jewish settlers living amid more than 100,000 Palestinians in Hebron.
Correspondent Jerrold Kessel and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- As Hebron talks languish, delay may benefit Arafat - December 18,1996
- Clinton pressing for West Bank agreement - December 16,1996
- Amid tensions, Arafat telephones Netanyahu - December 15,1996
- Arafat calls for protests against Israeli settlements - December 14, 1996
- Israel offers incentives to expand Jewish settlements - December 13, 1996
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