- BEIJING (Reuters) - China's
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan warned Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in
a phone conversation on Sunday of disastrous consequences for the Middle
East if Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was harmed, Xinhua said.
-
- The news agency quoted Tang as urging Israel to withdraw
immediately from Palestinian territory.
-
- The two sides should take concrete measures to end the
conflict and work toward the resumption of peace talks, Xinhua quoted Tang
as saying.
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- Peres had expressed Israel's willingness to make commitments
to the international community that no danger would be brought to Arafat's
personal safety and that the organization of the Palestinian Authority
would not be destroyed, it said.
-
- Israel launched an onslaught against Arafat early on
Friday after a devastating suicide bombing at the start of the Jewish Passover
holiday last week, bringing an 18-month-old conflict to the doorstep of
the Palestinian leader.
-
- The battle of wills between the two sides has only grown
in intensity and violence in the last month despite international calls
for a cease-fire.
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- Israeli forces raided a Palestinian-ruled village near
the West Bank town of Tulkarm overnight and the army said troops shot dead
two armed Palestinians during an exchange of fire.
-
- On Saturday, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a busy
Tel Aviv restaurant, wounding 32 people in an attack claimed by a group
linked to Arafat's Fatah organization.
-
- At least 1,125 Palestinians and 384 Israelis have been
killed since the Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation began in
September 2000 after peace talks broke down.
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