From: Stasi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Xinhua: U.S. Considering Tougher Policy Toward Palestinians HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- Saturday, January 26, 2002 2:39 PM U.S. Considering Tougher Policy Toward Palestinians -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xinhuanet 2002-01-26 06:17:38 WASHINGTON, January 25 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. President George W. Bush indicated Friday that the U.S. is considering punitive actions against the Palestinian Authority led by Yasser Arafat for an attempt to smuggle weapons into the Palestinian-controlled territory. "Ordering up weapons that were intercepted on a boat headed for that part of the world is not part of fighting terror," Bush said on a trip to Maine. "That's enhancing terror," he said, noting that he was "very disappointed" with Arafat. Israeli troops early this month intercepted a ship carrying 50 tons of weapons and ammunitions in the Red Sea and accused the Palestinians of smuggling the arms. But the charge was rejected by the Palestinian side. The Bush administration, which has sided completely with Israel in the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, also blamed Arafat for the incident and sent "evidence" on the Palestinian Authority's involvement in the event to leaders of major Arab countries on Thursday. According to U.S. officials, the U.S. options include closing the Palestinian Authority offices in Washington, suspending the peacemaking mission by special envoy Anthony Zinni, or placing Arafat's personal security force on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist groups. Enditem _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
