JERUSALEM – President Clinton summoned PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Washington today in a “decisive” bid for a Mideast peace pact, despite another terrorist car bombing in Israel that left more than 50 people injured.
Arafat agreed to the urgent visit after two phone calls from the president – lasting a total of one hour – and left Gaza for Washington late last night.
The Palestinian leader had refused to respond to the Clinton plan last weekend, claiming he needed clarification first on about two dozen points and that he also needs to confer Thursday with the Arab League foreign ministers.
But sources said Clinton told Arafat he will clarify all points if Arafat is in Washington today.
Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeinah called the trip “a decisive visit at which the future of the peace process will be determined.”
But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said today he doubted Clinton could broker a peace deal before the end of his presidential term on Jan. 20.
And Arafat indicated he’ll be bringing Rdeinah and two other aides – who have sharply criticized the Clinton plan – to Washington instead of his senior deputies, Abu Mazen and Abu Ala.
According to sources, he told the deputies: “There is no reason for you to go. Nothing will come of it.”
The chances of reaching a peace accord suffered another blow yesterday when a powerful car bomb exploded on a street in the Mediterranean resort town of Netanya.
The homemade bomb packed the equivalent of 22 pounds of TNT. Israel’s police chief, Shlomo Aharonishiki, said it was a “miracle” there were no fatalities.
Police suspect the driver of a stolen Suzuki was trying to park when the bomb detonated.
Witnesses said the man, who was hospitalized, was thrown from the car and burned beyond recognition.
Palestinian police quickly tightened security on Temple Mount in Jerusalem out of fear of retaliation.