Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan failed in talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday to persuade Israel to end sanctions it imposed on Palestinians after a double suicide bombing. "If they begin to fight terrorism, we will review the various steps that were taken in order to make them fight terrorism," Mr Netanyahu said after a three-hour meeting with King Hussein's younger brother. Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip after last Wednesday's twin bombing killed 15 people including the two bombers in a Jerusalem street market. Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat condemned the closure as collective punishment.
A Jordanian official, who asked not to be identified, said the main purpose of the prince's talks in Jerusalem was to "restart Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and end Israel's punitive measures against the Palestinians".
In Syria, official newspapers warned that Mr Netanyahu was pushing the Middle East towards a "grave explosion" and urged Arabs to prepare for "military and political" battles with Israel.
Meanwhile, a senior adviser to Mr Arafat accused US Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich of talking "racist trash" in his recently-voiced support for action by Israel against Palestinian militants.
Mr Ahmed Tibi said statements by some US congressmen since the market bombing sounded as if they came from the outlawed anti-Arab Kach movement of the late US-born Rabbi Meir Kahane.
This was especially so in the case of Mr Gingrich, the House of Representatives Speaker, said Mr Tibi, an Israeli Arab.
Mr Gingrich, one of the US's most powerful politicians, directed fierce criticism at Mr Arafat on Sunday and said he backed whatever steps Mr Netanyahu needed to impose to protect Israeli citizens.
He said there was "clear evidence that Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority have not only not stopped terrorism, but had people in their organisation helping terrorists".
The Palestinian Authority's Information Ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, said Mr Gingrich's position "makes the extreme right wing in Israel look moderate".
"His statements regarding President Arafat are void of any truth, constitute an incitement against the peace process and certainly encourage the Netanyahu government to further destroy what is left of the peace process," the statement said.
Wednesday's attacks have sharpened doubts whether Congress will renew approval for the US administration to continue aid to the Palestinian Authority and contacts with the PLO when it returns from its summer recess. The authorisation expires next Tuesday.
A Palestinian couple refused to let Israeli roadblocks stand in the way of their marriage.
Mahmoud (35) said he and his bride, Lubnah, drove along dusty side roads in the West Bank to evade Israeli checkpoints choking off Palestinian travel between towns and villages.
"Reaching Kharbatha village and bringing the bride was like a military operation due to all the side roads we took escaping the eyes of Israeli soldiers until we accomplished what we desired," said Mahmoud, who declined to give his last name. He travelled 20 km to reach his bride in her village near Ramallah.