Nabil Shaath, minister of planning and international cooperation in the Palestinian National Authority, said Arafat would come to Cairo on Thursday and then set out by land Friday for the historic and long-awaited return.
But Israel quickly cast doubt on Arafat's travel plans, saying there may not be time to make the arrangements.
"We got a request from Nabil Shaath to approve a visit of Arafat via the passage in Rafah on Friday for three days," Rabin spokesman Oded Ben-Ami said. "We are not giving an answer yet. We have to check this request. Because it is so soon, it is probably too late.
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