Blair Snub For Netanyahu's Attempt To Isolate Arafat

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-21-2002 | Anton La Guardia

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Blair snub for Netanyahu's attempt to isolate Arafat

By Anton La Guardia,Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 21/12/2002)

Tony Blair snubbed Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli foreign minister, yesterday amid growing tensions over his plan to hold a Palestinian conference in London next month.

Mr Netanyahu, on a tour of Europe in an effort to isolate Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, pressed his case in London with Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary.

But his request to meet the Prime Minister was turned down, even though Mr Blair will see Amram Mitzna, the leader of Israel's opposition Labour Party, next month ahead of the Israeli elections.

British officials said Mr Blair's decision not to receive Mr Netanyahu, a rival to Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, was deliberate.

He has previously entertained Israeli foreign ministers such as Shimon Peres, a member of the Labour Party, which is more amenable to compromise with the Palestinians than the ruling Likud bloc.

The acrimony seems mutual. Before arriving in London, Mr Netanyahu criticised Mr Blair's plan to hold an international conference on Palestinian "reform" as pointless.

He said there was no chance of effective political or economic reforms - America's condition for peace talks on Palestinian statehood - as long as Mr Arafat was leader.

"I can tell you that I certainly see no difference between Arafat and Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders, except one: Arafat is a bin Laden with good public relations, especially in Europe," he said.

He also criticised Mr Blair's decision to welcome President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to London this week, saying it sent "a message that terror pays".