Israel says Arafat death could mark turning point in Mideast

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel expressed hope that the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, regarded in the Jewish state as the main obstacle to peace, could open a new chapter in relations with the Palestinians.
"The death of Arafat could mark a historic turning point for the Middle East," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Israeli radio following the death of Arafat at age 75 in a French military hospital.
"If a new, serious, responsible leadership should emerge at the end of the Arafat era, one that fulfills its commitments in accordance with the roadmap ... the conditions would be met to coordinate different options with this leadership, even to re-establish political negotiations with it," he said.
Sharon hinted with his statement that his plan to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip by the end of next year could eventually be implemented in concert with Palestinian authorities.
But the Israeli prime minister cautioned that no progress would be made towards a lasting peace unless Palestinian leaders were able to put a halt to anti-Israeli attacks and implement necessary political reforms.
"We hope that the new Palestinian leadership that succeeds him will understand that progress in relations with Israel and solutions to problems must come first and foremost through a war on terrorism," the premier added.
"Israel is a state that aspires to peace. I hope that the Palestinians will pick themselves up quickly and that we will be able to resume talks with them," Sharon said.
Since coming to power in early 2001, Sharon had boycotted Arafat and kept him under virtual house arrest in his West Bank headquarters for nearly three years before his dramatic airlift to France for medical care on October 29.
President Moshe Katsav, who has a largely ceremonial role, said Arafat`s death could "constitute the start of a new chapter".
Israeli Justice Minister Tommy Lapid welcomed Arafat`s death, saying the world was better off without him.
"The sun is shining in the Middle East and around the world, as Arafat was not only the leader of terrorism against Israel, but also the founding father of the terrorism that is running rampant around the world right now, including that of Al-Qaeda," Lapid said on Israeli military radio.
"All this terrorism is the fruit of Arafat`s work, and it`s good that the world is rid of him," the minister added.
Opposition Labour party leader Shimon Peres, who was jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize with Arafat in 1994, sent his condolences to Qorei following Arafat`s death, said party spokeswoman Giora Ayalon.
"Shimon Peres telephoned Abu Alaa (Qorei) and told him he understood the pain felt by the Palestinian people," Ayalon told AFP.
Earlier, Peres criticised Arafat for continuing on the path of "terrorism" after signing the Oslo peace accords that the two sealed in concert with then Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.
"Yasser Arafat made a mistake by committing himself to the path of terrorism and we have all paid the price," he told public radio.
Peres said Arafat`s likely successors could be partners in a renewed peace drive but that negotiations would not be easy.
Meanwhile, the United States expressed their hope for an independent and democratic Palestinian country, calling the death of Yasser Arafat an important event in Middle East history.
US President George W. Bush, who had frozen out the late Palestinian leader because he accused him of supporting terrorism, called on Palestinians and all world leaders to work towards establishing a viable and peaceful state.
"The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinian history. We express our condolences to the Palestinian people," Bush said in a statement after the announcement of Arafat`s passing early Thursday in a hospital south of Paris.
"During the period of transition that is ahead, we urge all in the region and throughout the world to join in helping make progress toward these goals and toward the ultimate goal of peace," Bush added.
"For the Palestinian people, we hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors," he added.
Former US president Bill Clinton, who had been instrumental in bringing Arafat to Washington 11 years ago to sign the Oslo agreement, said he regretted that Arafat had later missed an opportunity for lasting peace.
"History will record that Yasser Arafat`s greatest moment occurred on September 13, 1993, when he and Israel`s prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, shook hands on the White House lawn and signed the Oslo Accords which led to seven years of negotiation, progress and relative peace," Clinton said in a statement.
"I regret that in 2000 he missed the opportunity to bring that nation into being and pray for the day when the dreams of the Palestinian people for a state and a better life will be realized in a just and lasting peace," Clinton said in a statement, referring to the failed Camp David accords that year.
Bush on Wednesday said a new, post-Arafat Palestinian leadership could offer a chance for peace.
"When that happens, and I believe that it`s going to happen ... the United States of America will be more than willing to help build the institutions for a free society to emerge so that the Palestinians can have their own state," Bush told reporters at the White House.
On Friday, Bush will meet at the White House with his top ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who on the eve of his departure for Washington again underlined how vital it was to resolve the Middle East conflict.
Blair told legislators in parliament that he would "stress again the importance of the Middle East peace process".
In early 2002 the Bush administration broke off all contact with Arafat because he was held responsible for failing to stop anti-Israeli attacks by Palestinian militants. Washington also strengthened its ties with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whom the president subsequently called a "man of peace."
"The vision is two states, a Palestinian state and Israel living side by side in peace. I think we`ve got a chance to do that. I look forward to being involved in that process," Bush told reporters Wednesday.

11/11/2004 - 18:04 GMT - AFP