(Ha'aretz) - Aluf Benn Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met Saturday night amid growing concern on the Israeli side that the efforts to replace Yasser Arafat and his leadership with more moderate figures is proving to be a failure. Intelligence and security sources share the conclusion that the Abu Mazen government is finding it difficult to function in view of the resurgence of Arafat, his continuing control over the Palestinian security apparatus and funding, and his efforts to undermine reforms in the PA. According to the director of the Prime Minister's Office, Dov Weisglass, who returned from Washington on Thursday, the Americans, who publicly support Abu Mazen's government, perceive him as having little chance for success, and Arafat is seen as stronger than they originally thought. (Ha'aretz) At the Israeli Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Sharon said that he would continue to meet with Abu Mazen. He also said: "Israel will continue to foil any murder attempt against it citizens until we see that there is someone on the other side that can do it."
2003-05-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive