The World - News from Sept. 27, 1989

Sixty-eight senators and 44 members of the House urged Secretary of State James A. Baker III to deny a U.S. entry visa to Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat to address the U.N. General Assembly. In letters to Baker, the lawmakers charged that Arafat has failed to live up to a commitment he made last December to recognize Israel’s right to exist and renounce terrorism. The House letter said “PLO terror groups” continue to carry out cross-border attacks against Israel and charged that Arafat’s Fatah faction has renewed its commitment to armed struggle. The letter said that “most troubling” was Arafat’s rejection of Israel’s peace initiative based on elections in the occupied territories. Arafat, who was denied a U.S. visa last November, has not applied for one this year but is expected to do so.