ARAFAT APPROVED ATTACK ON U.S. CONVOY
RAMALLAH [MENL] -- The United States has determined that Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat approved an attack on a U.S. embassy convoy
in which three Americans were killed in 2003.
U.S. diplomatic sources said a U.S. investigation into the bombing of the
embassy convoy in the Gaza Strip in October 2003 pointed to a clear role by
Arafat. The sources said Arafat granted approval to a plan to strike U.S.
interests in PA areas.
Arafat, the sources said, did not draft or approve any details for a
Palestinian attack. But they said Arafat agreed to a proposal relayed by a
high-level aide for the Palestinians to "pass a message" to the United
States.
According to the sources, a senior Arafat aide and member of the Fatah
Central Committee left Gaza City for Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah in
September 2003 to seek approval for a Palestinian attack on U.S. interests
in the area. The Fatah official, described as a liasion between Arafat and
Palestinian insurgents in the Gaza Strip, complained of U.S. policy toward
the PA and Arabs.
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