ISRAEL yesterday welcomed US pressure on the PLO to reach a deal on Israeli troop redeployment in the West Bank town of Hebron, but the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat said he saw no hope of an agreement.
The Israeli Cabinet Secretary, Mr Danny Naveh, praised remarks by the US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, that put the onus on the Palestinian leader to finalise an accord. The US mediator in the Hebron talks, Mr Dennis Ross, is due back in the region this weekend.
On his return to Gaza from Cairo yesterday, Mr Arafat said he hoped Mr Ross would be an impartial mediator and not a proponent of Israel's position.
In Hebron, a petrol bomb exploded outside a Jewish settler house, setting a laundry line on fire but causing no casualties. Arab witnesses said angry settlers rushed into the street and attacked three television cameramen, damaging their equipment.
"The Americans know full well it isn't Israel that is delaying the talks, and it is now the Palestinians' turn," Mr Naveh told Israel Radio. "I hope [Christopher's statement] and Ross's visit will help wrap up the negotiations."
Mr Christopher said in Washington on Thursday: "The Israelis have made some moves in connection with Hebron. We think it's time for the Palestinians, for Chairman Arafat to respond to those moves, to reciprocate those moves." He gave no details.
Mr Arafat told reporters while in Cairo that he saw nothing to suggest an agreement was likely soon.
"There's no sign of hope that in the future a solution will be reached that satisfies the Palestinian side, especially in view of the Israeli government's intransigence," he said.
Asked on his return to Gaza about a Ross visit, Mr Arafat told reporters: "The most important thing is that Mr Ross has to be an accurate mediator and not to be by the side of Israel."
The Palestinian leader will travel to Jordan today to consult King Hussein on the latest developments, Mr Arafat's spokesman, Mr Nabil Abu Rdainah, said.
Israel has accused Mr Arafat of stalling in 10 weeks of talks on Hebron in hopes of bringing world pressure on the Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr, Arafat has insisted Israel honour the agreement already signed under which about 80 per cent of the town would come under Palestinian administration.
Both Mr Christopher and President Clinton voiced frustration this week with the slow pace of negotiations over the Hebron pull-back, originally scheduled for last March.
Israel wants better security for 400 Jewish settlers who live or study in Hebron amid more than 100,000 Palestinians.