UK News 15-10-2001 Arafat Arrives In Britain For Terrorism Talks who: Yasser Arafat what: Flies in for middle east talks with Blair where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Yasser Arafat will urge Tony Blair at a meeting today to remove the Palestinian `weapon` from the hands of Osama bin Laden to stop the Saudi dissident from hijacking the Palestinians` cause," writes the Independent`s Eric Silver as the Palestinian leader arrives in the UK. Arriving at Heathrow airport last night, Mr Arafat said: "This is a very important visit and we hope we will discuss with the Prime Minister the whole situation in the Middle East and the whole situation internationally, especially after what has happened with terrorist activities." Mr Blair returned to the UK from talks in Egypt on Friday, reports BBC Online, "where he said the Middle East peace process was crucial to defusing tension in the wake of the US terror attacks." The Telegraph`s perspective is positive - "What better means of demonstrating that the West is not fighting a war against Muslims than to show that Britain has the trust of Arafat?" - but points out that Mr Arafat`s shrewd political manoeuvring has given him "the way out of months of stalemate with Israel. His swift footwork has allowed him to fend off Israeli accusations of sponsoring terrorism. Around Jerusalem, there are posters depicting Yasser Arafat and bin Laden side by side. But in Western capitals, the feeling now is that it is Israel`s prime minister, Ariel Sharon, who must be subjected to political pressure." The BBC continues in the same vein: "At yesterday`s security cabinet meeting, Mr Sharon ordered a token number of measures to loosen the stranglehold the Israeli army has over Palestinian cities and towns.However, it was clear that Mr Sharon does not look favourably on Mr Blair`s invitation to Mr Arafat, which runs counter to Israel`s efforts to paint him as a terrorist beyond redemption. The Israeli leader is alarmed at a US and UK diplomatic offensive meant to win Palestinian support for the war on Afghanistan, and the Middle East truce." [... more]

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