Top Palestinians Revoke Clauses Targeting Israel
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GAZA CITY — The Palestinian leadership Thursday scrapped constitutional clauses rejecting Israel’s existence and said it will try to stem violence that has jeopardized the peace process--moves that may smooth President Clinton’s visit to the region.
A group of senior Palestinians led by Yasser Arafat voted overwhelmingly to declare clauses of the Palestine Liberation Organization charter calling for Israel’s destruction null and void, a key condition of a Mideast peace agreement brokered in Maryland in October.
Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian security chief, said the Palestinian Authority will take steps to curtail riots sparked by Israel’s refusal to release prisoners jailed on anti-Israel charges.
Salim Zanoun, who announced the decision by the Palestinians’ central council to nullify the offending passages, said the larger Palestine National Council, or PNC, will not vote again on the matter when it meets Monday.
Israel insists that the full council must formally vote to void the passages or it will not implement its next scheduled troop withdrawal.
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