The World - News from April 25, 1989

Prominent Palestinians from Israeli-occupied areas told Italy’s prime minister that they could agree to elections as a first step to a Palestinian state. Ten activists from the West Bank and Gaza Strip met Ciriaco De Mita and later hinted to reporters they might rethink their rejection of elections under Israeli occupation, provided that a subsequent troop withdrawal was agreed on in advance. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir has proposed elections in the occupied areas to choose Palestinians who would negotiate an interim period of self-rule. Israeli officials have said the notion of withdrawing forces before elections is a “non-starter.”