Dispute over militants resolved, claim Palestinian officials

PALESTINIAN officials yesterday said they had resolved a dispute over 17 militants held at gunpoint in Yasser Arafat’s compound, and that the men would not be moving to Jericho as desired by Israel.

An Israeli minister had said such a transfer could ease the way to Israel lifting its siege of Arafat and pulling out of the West Bank town of Ramallah, the Palestinians’ administrative headquarters. Abdel Fattah Hamayel, a Palestinian minister responsible for negotiating with the militants, said “the principal issue” in the dispute had been resolved.

“They will not be sent to Jericho, they will not be arrested,” he said. “What is still being negotiated is how their security can be assured.” Hamayel said it was not clear whether the militants would stay at the compound or be moved elsewhere in Ramallah. He said the two sides were meeting with American intermediaries to discuss the wider issue of militants wanted by Israel.