THE PALESTINIAN cabinet and the Palestine Liberation Organisation executive at the weekend issued a formal statement urging Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's next prime minister, "to adhere to agreements" made with the Israeli government, writes Michael Jansen.
It also called upon the international community to push the peace process forward.
This low key approach contrasted sharply with remarks made by the Palestinian Minister of Information, Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo, who said that the victory of Mr Netanyahu "necessitated a global re evaluation of the situation on the Palestinian and Arab planes".
Such a review would seem set to begin today or tomorrow when the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, begins discussions in Cairo with the Syrian President, Mr Hafez al Assad, and possibly the Lebanese President, Mr Elias Hrawi.
Their main concern is Mr Netanyahu's declared policy of refusing to withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights without which there could be no peace with Syria or comprehensive regional settlement. The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr Amr Musa, said that the objective of this meeting would be to prepare the way for a full Arab summit.
Mr Netanyahu's rejection of further Israeli troops redeployment in the West Bank, determination to expand Jewish settlements and refusal to compromise over Jerusalem will be on the agenda of a tripartite Arab summit on Wednesday, bringing together Mr Mubarak, King Hussein of Jordan and the Palestinian president, Mr Arafat, at the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.
Reuter adds: Mr Arafat arrived in London last night for a two day visit during which he meet Mr John Major. He declined to say whether Mr Netanyahu's election would jeopardise the peace process. "We are respecting the democratic choice of the Israeli people," he said at Heathrow airport.
