Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said at a press conference in Ramallah on the 28 of March that the Palestinian Leadership is ready to work for an immediate ceasefire; Arafat said: We informed General Zinni whose efforts we appreciate that we are ready to start an immediate implementation of Tenet Plan without any conditions and without changes on any of its items and also regarding the recommendations of Mitchell's Report in cooperation with the US-Russian-EU-UN quadruple committee headed by General Zinni. President Arafat expressed regret regarding the Israeli military preparations to start a large-scale operation against the Palestinian people, camps, cities, and installations. He pointed out that this dangerous operation is aimed basically against the peace project approved by the Arab Summit in Beirut and aimed at the peace process which was started by the late Yitshaq Rabin and against the Palestinian people and against the PNA. What is happening now needs an Arab and international immediate position to confront the coming dangerous developments and to protect the peace process. President Arafat expressed appreciation for the success of the Arab Summit and that the Palestinian side will work with all Arab and international parties to implement the Arab Peace Initiative. Arafat called on the Israeli government to start immediate peace negotiations with the concerned parties: Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, towards implementing the initiative and all international legitimacy resolutions, the last of which was resolution 1397, which was approved by the UN Security Council. Arafat condemned the Netanyah operation, stressing that this operation is a violation to the Palestinian national and humanitarian values. Nabil Abu Rdeineh, Arafat's media adviser, said President Arafat informed the Israeli government, the US Administration, and the world about his acceptance to implement Tenet Understandings without any amendments or changes and expressed readiness to declare a ceasefire. He continued that after this important decision and after approving the Saudi Initiative, the ball now in the Israeli and American court and we are waiting for the response. Dr. Saeb Erekat said the Leadership intensified its contacts with the US Administration and the US Peace Envoy General Zinni, with the EU, and with the Arab countries to deter the Israeli danger. Erekat stressed on the need for US and international moves and warned of any Israeli attack against the Palestinian people and their leadership.

Meanwhile, Israeli Deputy FM claimed yesterday evening that the declaration of President Arafat regarding the ceasefire does not change anything because he had already declared this 50 times in the past.

Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said the Palestinian security forces started arresting activists in the West Bank after the declaration of President Arafat who is ready for an immediate ceasefire. Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said the police arrested activists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Nablus. He added that additional arrests would be conducted in other areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Published at Al-Quds Newspaper on March 29.