More shuttle diplomacy likely for U.S. Mideast envoy Ross

U.S. Envoy Dennis Ross

April 8, 1998
Web posted at: 4:41 a.m. EDT (0841 GMT)

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- In another effort to push forward the peace process, U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross may be heading back to the Middle East following Passover week, which begins Friday.

Israel radio reported Tuesday that Ross would return to the region in 10 days.

Israeli officials could not be reached for comment on the report, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after a meeting with his Security Cabinet that "it is not a secret that we are in the middle of a process with the Americans ... It is possible that it will be renewed" after Passover.

Ross made a four-day trip to the region last month, shuttling between Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. No breakthroughs resulted.

Israeli forces went on high alert Tuesday after police shot and killed a Palestinian driver they said had ignored an order to stop at a Jerusalem checkpoint Monday evening. Israeli officials are also taking precautions to guard against any revenge bombings promised by the militant group Hamas following the death of their chief bombmaker Mohiyedine Sharif.

Israeli troops arrested three Palestinians in the West Bank town of Sourif late on Tuesday, witnesses said.

Soldiers in army jeeps chased the Palestinians into the village, stopped their car and seized the three. Residents of the village said it was not immediately clear why they were arrested.

Israel was expected to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip before the start of the seven-day Jewish holiday, which begins at sundown Friday.

Hamas says investigation of Sharif killing continues

Also Tuesday, Hamas leaders stepped up their criticism of the Palestinian Authority and said Hamas would go on with its own investigation into the death of Sharif, whose body was found at the scene of an explosion in Ramallah on March 29.

The Palestinian Authority has concluded that Sharif had been shot by a rival Hamas member.

Palestinian official Tayeb Abdel Rahim said Arafat had decided on a speedy and public trial of the four Hamas members suspected in Sharif's death who are in custody. A fifth suspect is at large.

Though the authority cleared Israel in Sharif's death, Hamas continued to blame Israel and said it would make good on threats to carry out revenge bombings in Israel.

In response, Israeli security forces have been patrolling markets, malls and bus stations in cities, and tightening controls at West Bank roadblocks.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.  

Extended coverage:

• Message Board:Israeli/Palestine peace process
• Newsmaker Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu - Israeli Prime Minister
• Newsmaker Profile: Yasser Arafat - Palestinian Leader

Related stories:

• Defiant Netanyahu puts his faith in 'stubbornness' - March 31, 1998
• Ross leaving Mideast empty-handed - March 30, 1998
• U.S. envoy begins last-ditch talks in Mideast - Mar. 29, 1998
• Israel: No pullbacks without Palestinian security commitments - March 29, 1998
• Arafat mulls U.S. peace plan - March 28, 1998
• Ross reveals new U.S. peace plan to Arafat, Netanyahu - March 27, 1998
• Ross to meet Arafat, following 4 hours with Netanyahu - March 27, 1998

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• Office of The Israeli Prime Minister - information in both Hebrew and English
• Israeli Foreign Ministry - information about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as recent developments in Israel
• Palestinian National Authority - official site of the PNA
• The Palestine Ministry Of Information - press releases, daily news and other information

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

---

 

---

Sound off on our message boards & chat

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.