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| Middle East | |
| Sharon To Head ‘Peace Talks’ With Abu Mazen Personally | |
| 2003-05-04 | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will head negotiations with the Palestinians himself and may resume contacts with newly-appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas shortly, Israeli media said. Sharon told his ministers at a weekly cabinet meeting of his intention to personally head negotiations which are set to resume with a new U.S.-led peace initiative. The radio added that a meeting was imminent between the right-wing Sharon and Abbas, whom Israel sees as a pragmatic moderate ready to demilitarize the Palestinian Intifada. The radio said the meeting should take place after Israel's Independence Day celebrations Wednesday. Abbas' new security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, has already initiated contacts to enable the two leaders to meet. Sharon met Sunday with his Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz at the weekly cabinet meeting to discuss security issues with the Palestinians. The move toward resuming talks, which broke down some 18 months ago amid rising violence, came as U.S. Middle East envoy William Burns arrived in Israel to meet officials from both Israel and the Palestinian administration ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
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| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 Sharon can actually take the high ground if he's serious about removing indefensible (militarily and politically) settlements. Israel -which I totally defend as a state and an American ally - needs to make the moves for peace, but ONLY after they have a willing partner in the paleos.Until the Paleos give up their dream to drive the Jews into the sea, as well as their right of return (which exists nowhere in the mideast save for at the point of kurd guns - oops, bad example) which will NEVER happen, Sharon can give lip service. It is apparent to most Israelis though, from my readings, that the settlements cannot expand, and must be withdrawn to defensible borders |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-05-04 21:24:36 |