Palestinians place new terms for peace talks after outbreaks of violence

Published: Saturday, November 11, 2000

JERUSALEM {AP} Palestinians on Friday set tough new terms for a resumption of peace talks, as five Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in widespread clashes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, meanwhile, said the assassination of a West Bank militia commander wasn't just a one-time warning and that Israel would go after other gunmen if shooting attacks on Israeli enclaves don't cease.

The killing of Hussein Abayat, a regional commander of the Tanzim militia, "was meant to make this standard clear," Barak said during a tour of the West Bank's army headquarters. "Whoever hits us will be hit."

Abayat was riding in a car when he was killed by a missile from a helicopter gunship Thursday. Two women bystanders were also killed in the attack.

The militia, linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, has threatened revenge. In a first retaliation, Palestinian snipers fired Friday on Israeli troops guarding Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, part of the region Abayat commanded, and one soldier was critically wounded. The soldier, 20-year-old Sgt. Shahar Ukrat, died of his wounds Friday night, the army said.

Five Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in clashes in the West Bank town of Jenin and in Gaza. The Gaza deaths included two Palestinians shot and killed by Israeli soldiers at the Karni and Erez crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Late Friday, 28-year-old Raed Mekhsed was caught in a heavy exchange of fire between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli soldiers in Hebron and was killed by a bullet that hit him in the back while he was in his car.

Palestinian reports identified him as the son of Saadi Mekhsed, a senior Palestinian security official who was in the car at the time of the shooting. At least 187 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed in six weeks of fighting.

A further escalation of violence could overshadow Barak's meeting with President Clinton at the White House on Sunday. U.S. officials have not specifically condemned the Israeli strike, but have warned that violence would only beget more violence.

Arafat, who met Clinton on Thursday and went to the United Nations on Friday, said he was ready to attend another Mideast summit, provided it was well planned and success was guaranteed.

However, senior Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia on Friday set new conditions for a resumption of talks.

Qureia said Israel would have to declare a settlement freeze; the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, China, Egypt and Jordan would have to be brought in as mediators besides the United States; both sides would have to reaffirm that talks are based on U.N. resolutions calling on Israel to withdraw from war-won land; and an international force would have to be deployed to protect Palestinians against Israeli troops.