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| Middle East |
| Ariel to Yasser: ''What part about 'hell, no!' don't you understand?'' |
| 2003-01-29 |
| Ariel Sharon has rebuffed an offer by Yasser Arafat to resume peace talks - an indication the Israeli prime minister will stick to his tough policies in his second term. "Arafat? Arafat? Avner, do we know anybody named Arafat?" Sharon won a ringing endorsement for his military crackdown on the Palestinians in elections yesterday, and his right-wing supporters want to see him take an even tougher line. "Hey, Moshe! Good news! Sharon won!" "Hooboy! Now we might survive..." Commenting for the first time on the Israeli vote today, Palestinian leader Arafat said he was ready to resume peace talks. Asked by Israeli TV's Channel 10 if he was willing to meet with Sharon, Arafat replied: "Tonight. If he's ready, I'm ready." "If I can just get out of this hell-hole, and get somebody to listen to me, I'll be back on top, a world-class statesman in no time... Hand me a baby wipe, please." But Sharon's office said in response that Arafat funded and encouraged militants attacking Israelis. It said Arafat "is not and will not be a negotiating partner". "Tell him we said to piss off..." Israel would only negotiate with Palestinians not involved in violence, the statement added. "Come back when he's not there." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |