RAMALLAH, Gaza, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Israel rejected a truce plan issued Tuesday by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, calling it a "deception" and demanding instead a crackdown on terrorism.
The rejection came as senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat told Israel Radio the entire Palestinian leadership supports the proposal for a comprehensive and unlimited cease-fire.
The Ha'aretz News Service reported Jibril Rajoub, Arafat's national security adviser, said the Palestinian Authority would declare an immediate, general cease-fire to end all acts of Palestinian violence if Israel agrees to halt military attacks against Palestinians and remove its blockades over Palestinian areas.
Ha'aretz said Israeli officials dismissed the proposal, noting previous cease-fires had failed to end the fighting and the government stood by a decision not to agree to a further truce.
They cited an Israeli government statement last week, which said a truce was no substitute for dismantling terrorist organizations.
