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Israel Not to Restart Talks With Palestinians Under Fire: Sharon
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Monday reiterated that his government will not resume peace talks with Palestinians until violence and terror are halted.
According to a statement released by Sharon's office after he held talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib, the Israeli prime minister said "In any event, our government will not negotiate during violence and terror. After the terror is halted, Israel will be pleased to commence negotiations for a diplomatic settlement between it and the Palestinians."
Khatib, the highest-ranking Arab official to visit Israel since the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence last September, said earlier Monday that his one-day visit to Israel is for peace and that he has a Jordanian-Egyptian peace proposal on ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict and resuming their peace talks.
He discussed the proposal in detail with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres Monday noon and expressed his hope that Israel would accept the proposal to end the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli bloody clashes, which have killed over 450 people, most of them Palestinians, and wounded more than 15,000 others over the past six months.
It was reported that the Egyptian-Jordanian proposal, which was already accepted by the Palestinian side, includes four elements: cessation of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, renewal of security cooperation, implementation of interim agreements and return to peace negotiations.
However, Sharon stressed during his talks with Khatib that "the responsibility for bringing about a cessation of the violence and terror rests with the Palestinian (National) Authority."
Sharon, a hawkish political figure in Israel, reiterated that his government is committed to peace and "the restoration of security to the citizens of Israel.
But he confirmed that Israel would honor any agreements that were signed and ratified by the Knesset (parliament).
Regarding the Israeli-Jordanian relations, Sharon emphasized the importance of Jordan as a stabilizing force in the region and the importance of the relations between the two countries.
According to the statement, the Israeli prime minister sent his reetings to Jordanian King Abdullah.
After his meeting with Peres, Khatib said that Jordan strongly believes that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be solved through political means and on the basis of the United Nations resolutions 242 and 338.
With regard to Israel's rejection of the proposals, Khatib said "we presented the principles of resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and the contents of the proposals have actually been agreed by the two sides."
He also said that Jordanian ambassador to Israel will be back "after Israel ends aggressions against the Palestinians."
Extending a welcome to Khatib, Peres said the Israeli government appreciates Khatib's peace mission, adding that the Israeli government is carefully studying the peace plan brought by the Jordanian foreign minister.
"What has been agreed upon in the plan will be implemented, and what has not been agreed upon will be discussed further by the parties concerned," Peres said.
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