Palestinians Do Not Intend To Extradite Murderers Of Minister Of Tourism To Israel

The Palestinians do not intend to extradite to Israel the murderers of Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi, said Ziad Abu Ziad, member of the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority. He explained his stand by saying that the murderers had also committed a crime against the Palestinians who are interested in carrying on the ceasefire regime and returning to the negotiating table. "If these people are really on the territory of the Palestinian Authority," said Ziad Abu Ziad, "Arafat ought to arrest them and bring them to court, rather than extradite them to Israel." In the morning of October 18 Israel submitted to the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority an ultimatum demanding the "immediate and unconditional" arrest and extradition of the murderers of the member of Israel's cabinet of ministers. The ultimatum also points out that all the groupings which, according to Israel's assessments, are involved in terrorist activities, should be outlawed. Specifically, the matter concerns, above all, radical Islamic organizations -- Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Representatives of the latter have claim! ! ed responsibility for Ze'evi's murder. The ultimatum also says that, unless the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority carries out these conditions, Israel will qualify their conduct as support of terrorism, and that will "untie Israel's hands" for the necessary "protective actions." The leadership of the Israeli police points out that it knows the names of Rehavam Ze'evi's murderers and those who masterminded the terrorist act. According to some information, the list of names has already been handed over to the Palestinian leadership, with their extradition to be carried out within seven days.