Kesher Talk

Italy joins Bush, tells Arafat to get lost: European support for Yasser Arafat crumbled further on Thursday, as U.S. President George W. Bush's call for leadership change in the Palestinian Authority was endorsed by Italy, one of the Palestinians' traditional backers.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Mr. Bush at the Group of Eight summit in Canada, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said there are "more than suspicions" about the Palestinian Authority's involvement in terrorism and corruption. "If I were Arafat, I'd make a grand gesture," Mr. Berlusconi said. "Many are convinced that Arafat, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, can make a generous gesture and step down." (Wall St. Journal, subscription required)

posted by Howard @ 6/28/2002 10:31:20 AM