Arafat Angry at What He Calls Israeli Plan for Hebron

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat on Wednesday accused the Israeli government of racism in reaction to what he said was Israel’s proposal to partition the disputed West Bank city of Hebron and to limit Arab construction on streets used by Jewish settlers there.

On a visit here to consult with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian Prime Minister Karim Kabariti, Arafat grew angry as he demanded that Israel abide by accords signed over a year ago in which it pledged to withdraw its troops from Hebron.

He indignantly waved proposals he said he received from the Israelis on Tuesday night, saying they contained unacceptable changes in the Israeli-Palestinian accords.

“It is my right to tell you and expose to everyone--the Arab and Islamic nations and Palestinian people--what bitter truths we face,” Arafat said. “It shows . . . complete and abhorrent racism.”

Despite the harsh tone of Arafat’s remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy said agreement on the contentious Hebron question was close and might be achieved within hours.

And in remarks to Israel’s Army Radio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the talks were being hampered by a lack of goodwill among the Palestinians.

“We are conducting the negotiations with goodwill. We hope we will encounter the same attitude from the other side,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli commentators have accused Arafat of creating a climate of crisis to achieve last-minute concessions in the latest peace talks.

Negotiating teams for Israel and the Palestinians reconvened Wednesday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba, close to the Israeli border. They are being assisted by U.S. mediator Dennis B. Ross.

Israel, arguing that the 450 Jewish settlers in Hebron need more protection, is seeking security guarantees besides those in the accord it signed with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians, backed by Egypt and Jordan, oppose changes in the signed accord.

Shai Bazak, a Netanyahu spokesman, disputed the negotiating positions described by Arafat, telling Reuters news service that there is “no plan to divide Hebron.” He offered no details.

But Arafat asserted that Israel wants to divide Hebron “into two towns, two separate cities.”

He noted that Israel is also insisting on the right of “hot pursuit,” allowing Israeli police to operate in Palestinian areas when chasing terrorism suspects.

He also described proposed rules that would limit the height of new buildings on streets used by Jewish settlers.

Arafat said the Israelis proposed that no buildings higher than 20 feet be built within 150 yards of streets used by Jewish settlers; new buildings closer to the streets would be limited to 10 feet in height. He also said Israel wants to forbid Palestinians from setting up schools, hospitals or clubs near the Jewish settlements.

“What racism! It did not happen even in South Africa. The streets in which Jews walk on foot! This never happened anywhere in the world,” he said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amir Moussa, summing up the latest round of Arab consultations about Hebron and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, said Arafat, Mubarak and Kabariti had agreed in their meeting that Israel’s new proposals should be rejected.

Israel was to have withdrawn most of its forces from Hebron by March, leaving troops only in the immediate area of Jewish settlements. The former Israeli government of Prime Minister Shimon Peres delayed this action after suicide bombings by Muslim extremists killed more than 60 people.

Since Netanyahu’s election in May, he has said he will fulfill the agreement, but not until he wins more security guarantees for settlers.