Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Mr Sharon said today that truce talks with the Palestinians would have to take place "under fire", apparently backing down on his demand for a prior seven-day period of calm.
"I thought we could reach a period of respite before a ceasefire," Mr Sharon told Israel's second television channel. "But this is a war situation we are experiencing."
"The negotiations for a ceasefire will take place under fire," the premier was quoted as saying by the television, which stressed Mr Sharon was going back on his condition for a week of total calm.
Mr Sharon had not budged since his election as Israel's prime minister more than a year ago in his insistence on a period of calm before negotiating with the Palestinians.
This apparent turnaround comes ahead of a new visit to the region next week by US peace envoy Mr Anthony Zinni and at the end of the deadliest day of Israeli-Palestinian violence since 1987.
Forty-three people were killed in clashes and attacks today, 37 of them Palestinians.
AFP
