ISRAEL: TEL AVIV: BENJAMIN NETANYAHU MEETS KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN скачать в хорошем качестве

ISRAEL: TEL AVIV: BENJAMIN NETANYAHU MEETS KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN

(13 Jan 1997) English/Nat Hopes are running high for a summit between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, following the establishment of a key agreement between the two parties. The agreement - secured by King Hussein of Jordan -- allows Israel to prolong its three stage withdrawal from the West Bank. Palestinian observers say the move could hasten a comprehensive accord on expanding Palestinian autonomy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated King Hussein of Jordan Sunday on securing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's agreement to a gradual Israeli withdrawal from West Bank areas. The withdrawal -- which covers the disputed city of Hebron -- removes a major stumbling block in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Details had already been agreed on Israel's 10-month-late troop pullout from Hebron, but the signing has been held up by a dispute over the timetable of a further promised three- stage pullout from West Bank rural areas. But despite some initial optimism over the latest agreement, Netanyahu maintained a non-committal response on Sunday, saying work still remained to be done. SOUNDBITE: (English) "King Hussein was kind enough to report on his meetings in Gaza today with Chairman Arafat. I think because of the initiative, the important initiative that His Majesty took, we have made considerable progress, and I think we can envision the end of the negotiations in sight. There is still important work to be done, but I think we've made an important, a very important, step forward, and I am very grateful to you, Your Majesty, for your contribution to peace. This is not the first time you have taken important steps and timely steps, and I think it is a decisive contribution. We have equally a great hope that with goodwill of all parties -- the Palestinians, Israel, of course the United States, Jordan that has acted, and of course Egypt as well -- I think we can conclude successfully these negotiations." SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel King Hussein was responsible for negotiating the compromise proposal from Arafat on a new timetable for three Israeli troop withdrawals from West Bank towns, including Hebron. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I am more than happy to have been able to contribute in some small way at this important juncture towards accomplishing what you have set out to accomplish -- Palestinians and Israelis -- over such a long time ago. None of this would have been possible without your collective commitment to the cause of peace and a better future of generations to come. None of this would have been possible without the active and continued help and participation of the Unites States of America. And none of it would have been possible without the support of our brethren in Egypt and President Mubarak. I believe, sir, that we are on the verge of the completion of a long road. And as far as I am concerned, I leave here confident that everything will move in the right direction, and I hope that this will be a beginning, a fresh beginning, to continue the work to achieve the kind of peace and the kind of future we need and we seek for the descendants of the children of Abraham in this entire region." SUPER CAPTION: Hussein, King of Jordan U-S peace envoy Dennis Ross -- who has been trying to broker a deal on Palestinian self-rule -- expressed a similar non-committal view of the latest achievement. SOUNDBITE: SUPER CAPTION: Dennis Ross, US peace envoy Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...