(Daily Times-Pakistan) The separation barrier Israel is building along the West Bank will not mark the definitive border of an eventual Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon said in an interview published in Cairo Saturday in the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper. "The real border will be established once total calm is restored, which will allow us to move toward the (Middle East peace) roadmap, he said. The barrier's "only objective is to prevent terrorist operations inside Israel," he said. On east Jerusalem, Sharon said: "Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for the past 3,007 years after it was proclaimed as such by King David. It is the undivided capital of Israel." Referring to the border strip between Egypt and Gaza known as the Philadelphi corridor, Sharon said he hoped a halt to weapons smuggling would allow Israel also to withdraw from the corridor. "If the smuggling stops, it would please me a great deal to withdraw from this place." Analysts say the Egyptian state press is portraying Sharon in a more positive light as part of efforts to adjust Egyptians to the idea of closer ties between their government and Israel.
2005-02-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive