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PLO to Push for Peace Conference

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From Reuters

The Palestine Liberation Organization, preparing for a second round of talks with the United States today, said it will focus on persuading Washington to put its weight behind plans to hold an international conference on Mideast peace.

That proposal has previously been rejected by Israel. The United States has said it prefers that the two sides hold direct talks.

In an interview Tuesday, PLO spokesman Ahmed Abderrahman also said the PLO will reject any U.S. request to tone down the Arab uprising, known as the intifada , in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The PLO sees the 15-month-old revolt as its only weapon to keep up the pressure for a change in Israeli policy.

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“There can be no discussion of the intifada until Israel agrees to withdraw and accepts the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood,” he said.

But he sees a greatly improved atmosphere as the talks resume after a three-month break to allow the Bush Administration to settle into office. “There has been a significant change in the U.S. position, and the atmosphere is much better. . . . There are no controversial issues between us and the Americans,” he insisted.

The PLO and Washington agree on the idea of peace through Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, while Israel stands opposes this idea, he said.

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