April 8, 2003	Tuesday	Safar 5, 1424

TEL AVIV, April 7: German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer’s visit to Israel began with a diplomatic snub on Monday when the Israeli justice minister cancelled a meeting with him in a dispute over the talks’ venue in occupied Al Quds.

Justice Minister Yosef Lapid called off Tuesday’s meeting because Mr Fischer refused to come to his office in the predominantly Arab sector of the holy city, seized by Israel in 1967 and claimed by Palestinians as their future capital.

Tsahi Moshe, media adviser to Lapid, quoted the Yugoslav-born minister as saying: “The Germans won’t determine our sovereignty in East Jerusalem.”

Adding to tensions, Israel said it opposed Fischer’s planned talks on Wednesday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, whom it accuses of fomenting anti-Israeli violence, a charge he denies.

“It would be preferable the visit not take place,” Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said at a news conference with Fischer.

Fischer said while a new Palestinian leadership was needed, “It’s not in our hands to make the Palestinian decisions”.

It was a rocky start to Fischer’s three days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to promote a long-delayed U.S.-backed “road map” aimed at ending 30 months of violence.

“I would like to meet the German foreign minister. He is a good friend of Israel,” Lapid told Reuters. “But my offices are in the eastern part of Jerusalem, and if he wants to meet me I would like him to visit my office. If he refuses to do so, I am unable to meet him.”

BID TO REINSTATE MEETING: A European diplomat said European Union officials have made it policy not to meet Israeli authorities in Al Quds.

A source in the German delegation said efforts were under way to reinstate the meeting at an alternative site. Mr Fischer met Mr Shalom and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the predominantly western sector of Al Quds.—Reuters