Sharon Says "Terror" Decreased, but Campaign Far From Over

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 28, 2001

Sharon Says "Terror" Decreased, but Campaign Far From Over

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Thursday that the level of Palestinian "terror" decreased, but a campaign to prevent attacks was far from over, Israel Radio reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Thursday that the level of Palestinian "terror" decreased, but a campaign to prevent attacks was far from over, Israel Radio reported.

Sharon attributed the violence decrease to pressures Israel is exerting on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, reiterating that no diplomatic talks would be held with the Palestinians until "terror" attacks ceased completely.

On December 16, Arafat called on all Palestinians to halt armed and suicide attacks against Israel after a series of suicide bombing attacks sparked off Israeli intensive retaliatory air strikes on Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

When talks do resume, Sharon said, he plans to personally direct them, adding that the talks "will be directed from the Prime Minister's Office, in cooperation with the foreign minister (Shimon Peres)."

Senior Palestinian officials said on Thursday that talks between Peres and Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) will continue over the weekend when Qurei returns from visits to Egypt and Jordan.

Qurei and Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo are holding meetings with officials of the two countries to discuss contacts with Peres.

The Palestinians insist that the Qurei-Peres talks focus on a demand to create a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, and the status of Jerusalem be discussed.

Senior Israeli diplomatic sources said that some ministers in the government are demanding that the contacts between Peres and Qurei be discussed in the next cabinet meeting.