PALESTINIANS have overwhelmingly chosen Mr Yasser Arafat as their president, but a poll published yesterday shows they want a strong legislature to keep his power in check.
Mr Arafat won a landslide victory and his Fatah movement swept the election of an 88 member, legislative council. But a survey by the Centre for Palestine Research and Studies (CPRS) showed that a majority of voters leaving polling stations in Saturday's elections believe human rights and press freedom take precedence over "national security" issues.
Meanwhile, Israel plans to chart future peace moves with the Palestinians today at a first post election meeting, although the outcome of a new round of talks with Syria is in doubt.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, who is due to meet Mr Arafat in the Gaza Strip today said the Palestinian elections completed one phase of peacemaking and set the stage for the next.
"We have to conclude a chapter that was concluded with the elections," Mr Peres said. "And we shall discuss how to go ahead and fulfil the other parts of the agreement between them and us."
Outside Washington, negotiators for Israel and Syria are preparing to resume talks on the nature of peace and the future of the Golan Heights captured by Israel from Syria in 1967.
Israel's deputy Defence Minister, Mr Ori Orr, said yesterday he expected the Israeli Syrian peace talks to take longer than people might have thought.
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, said in Washington that he expected both sides to put all possible options on the table. Mr Peres told a parliamentary committee that the US, which is brokering the talks, wanted a positive conclusion this year.
Israel and Tunisia agreed on Monday to an exchange of diplomatic interests sections by April 15th, and Mr Peres told the committee "There are more on the way.