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Sharon to Powell: Israel Will Coordinate Disengagement If PA Acts Against Terrorism

(Ha'aretz)Aluf Benn and Arnon Regular - Israel will agree to coordinate next summer's disengagement from Gaza with the PA, but "if the PA does not take steps against terror, it will be impossible to advance," Prime Minister Sharon told U.S. Secretary of State Powell on Monday. "I understand the problems of a new leadership, but at some stage they need to take steps against terror. If they do, and prevent Kassam [rocket] launches, there will be coordination." Sharon promised Powell, who visited both Jerusalem and Ramallah, that Israel would make every effort to ensure the success of the PA election and would facilitate freedom of movement by opening transit points and withdrawing troops, but only where this does not harm Israel's security. Sharon stressed that Israel rejects European proposals to skip the first stage of the road map peace plan, which requires the PA to fight terror and carry out reforms, and go straight to final-status talks. "The Palestinians are daydreaming if they think that after Arafat's death, all they need to do is submit a list of demands to Israel," he said. Sharon also told Powell that Hizballah "has replaced Arafat as the driving force behind Palestinian terror." In an interview with Israel Television, Powell praised Sharon's attitude as "flexible and open." In Ramallah, Powell said, "We have to ensure that terrorism and violence will not be permitted once again to stop this process." In Jericho, Powell said that statehood "won't be determined by picking a date, but by progress and action on the ground."
2004-11-23 00:00:00
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