Netanyahu Aide, Arafat Reportedly Meet
An envoy of new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly met Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the first time since Israel’s May 31 election, an Israeli newspaper and a Palestinian security official said today.
Israel’s Yediot Aharonot newspaper and the official said political advisor Dore Gold and another Israeli met Arafat in the self-ruled Gaza Strip. They did not say when.
A spokesman for Netanyahu refused to confirm or deny the report.
Yediot Aharonot, quoting senior political sources, said Gold delivered a message from Netanyahu saying Israel hoped to continue talks toward a peace settlement, including a final accord, with Arafat’s Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu has resisted meeting with Arafat.
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