March 19, 2002	Tuesday	Muharram 4, 1423

TEL AVIV, March 18: US Vice President Dick Cheney’s decision not to schedule a meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a trip to Israel provoked anger among the Palestinians on Monday, even though the American stance is not altogether a surprise.

The Palestinian Authority’s response was a threat to snub Cheney, even though senior US officials have not completely ruled out a meeting between Arafat and the vice president, who arrived on Monday afternoon.

However, Cheney’s position is in keeping with the severe stance towards Arafat maintained by US President George W. Bush since he came to office.

Cheney, one of Bush’s most trusted officials, flew here as part of an 11-nation swing aimed essentially at whipping up Arab support for Washington’s “war on terrorism” and possible military action against Iraq.

The American later met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and was to hold talks with President Moshe Katsav, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer on Tuesday.

Palestinian officials expressed surprise that Cheney would sit down to discuss peace with Sharon but not with Arafat.

“We are really surprised that a US vice president coming to the region to discuss serious issues, mainly the peace process, intends to meet with one and not the other,” Palestinian information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.

“It is the first time such a thing happens, that is why we have decided that Palestinian officials will not take part in any meeting with Cheney,” he added.—AFP