According to an Israeli newspaper, Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinians, is ready to accept the peace proposal put forward by former U.S. President Bill Clinton about two years ago. The Haaretz newspaper, which interviewed Mr. Arafat on Thursday, reports that Mr. Arafat now agrees to land exchanges and Israeli sovereignty over the Jewish part of Old Jerusalem, including the Eastern Wall. The report published today does not mention Mr. Arafat's stance on the right of return for Palestinian refugees to Israel. However, the Haaretz interviewer told the Associated Press that Mr. Arafat agrees with all of Mr. Clinton's points of view. The former U.S. president supported a limited return of refugees. In Mr. Clinton's plan, 95 percent of the West Bank and all of Gaza would form the new Palestinian state. Mr. Clinton discussed this plan with Yasser Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak towards the end of his presidency. At that time, Mr. Arafat faced international criticism for rejecting this plan.
Yasser Arafat Accepts Bill Clinton's Peace Plan - 2002-06-21
Yasser Arafat has expressed readiness to accept Bill Clinton's peace proposal, which includes land exchanges and Israeli sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem. This marks a significant shift in Arafat's position, as he previously faced criticism for rejecting the plan. The development is crucial for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Yasser Arafat has indicated his readiness to accept Bill Clinton's peace proposal, which includes land exchanges and Israeli control over parts of Jerusalem. This represents a notable shift from his previous rejection of the plan.
- Arafat agrees to land exchanges and Israeli sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem.
- Clinton's plan proposed a Palestinian state comprising 95% of the West Bank and all of Gaza.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, with multiple failed attempts at peace. Clinton's proposal was one of the most comprehensive efforts to resolve the conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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