Israel Mulls New Peace Plan

Voice of America, November 10, 2001

Israel is considering Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' new peace plan that reportedly includes a Palestinian state and dismantling Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Peres discussed the plan Saturday with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is likely to oppose uprooting Jewish settlers in Gaza and the West Bank.

Israeli media says the first phase of Mr. Peres' plan would be a Palestinian state in areas of the West Bank and Gaza already under Palestinian control. Final borders would come during negotiations in which the United States would play a large part.

Mr. Peres told Swedish radio last week declaring a Palestinian state may be the best way to restart peace talks.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Saturday he believes the Israeli plan is a ploy to block peace proposals by the United States, Russia, and Europe.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops arrested 12 suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank village of Araqa early Saturday. The Palestinians were suspected of being involved in the killing of an Israeli woman near the village the day before.

The Israeli army also bulldozed the house belonging to a Palestinian it says was behind last month's shooting attack in a bus station in Afula, in northern Israel. Three Israelis died in that attack, 14 were wounded.

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