Israeli leader Mr Ariel Sharon set out three conditions for an end tothe blockade of the West Bank and Gaza today, including a statementby Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat renouncing violence.
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Mr Ariel Sharon
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Mr Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister-elect, said US Secretary of StateMr Colin Powell conveyed the conditions to Mr Arafat during theirtalks yesterday in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
In a statement issued from his ranch in southern Israel, MrSharon outlined the three main demands:
- Mr Arafat must make a public statement calling unequivocally for anend to violence.
- The Palestinian Authority must act to stop incitement.
- A renewal of security coordination in the field.
Mr Powell said yesterdayhe had conveyed Mr Sharon's demands toMr Arafat, but had not disclose what they were. He called for an end to violence and urged Israel to end its siege of the West Bank and Gaza so Palestinian economic activity could resume.
US Secretary of State arrived in Saudi Arabia today on a brief visitas part of a regional tour to discuss the Middle East peace processand Iraq. He is due to meet Saudi King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullahduring his three-hour stop in the kingdom.
In fresh violence today, witnesses reported the Israeli army wasusing machine guns and tanks and razing agricultural land near theErez crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
The army said it was checking the report, but sporadic incidents ofPalestinian gunfire had been taking place in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, Palestinian demonstrators at the university inHebron waved Iraqi and Palestinian flags. Some held US and Israeliflags with pictures of Mr Powell stuck on them and dragged them alongthe ground.
Mr Sharon’s statement today came as Israel's centre-left Labour Partyprepared to decide whether to join a coalition under his leadership.
Formation of a coalition following Mr Sharon's February 6th electionvictory over Mr Ehud Barak, now serving as caretaker Prime Minister,would clear the way for him to take power and set the tone forpeacemaking between Israelis and Palestinians.
Labour's central committee was set to meet later today to discuss itsstand and, despite opposition from influential party figures, Israelinewspapers predicted the party was likely to vote in favour of acoalition with Mr Sharon's Likud Party.
Former Prime Minister and Nobel peace laureate Mr Shimon Peres, hassaid he was ready to join a coalition. He is expected to be chosen asinterim leader of Labour following Mr Barak's withdrawal frompolitics and is expected to become foreign minister if the partyjoins a Sharon-led coalition.