JERUSALEM: Aides of Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres refused today to name 25 Palestinians who met him to discuss the future of Israeli occupied areas, apparently fearing reprisals against them.
Peres office said that the meeting with the mainly proJordanian notables was the first of a series and that other Palestinians, presumably with different views, would be invited to other talks.
Palestinians who confirmed their attendance at that gathering asked not to be identified.
They said Peres told them Israel was ready to seek a solution to the Palestinian problem with local leaders who repudiated violence, Israel’s usual formula for excluding the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from peace talks.
Hanna Siniora, a newspaper editor with Moderate Pro-PLO views who expects to be invited to a future meeting, said he welcomed the chance to tell Peres there could be no peace if attempts were made to bypass the organization.
PLO hardliners called those who attended the meeting stooges and dummies.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 8, 1986
