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Sharon orders security meetings with Palestinians as he starts trip to US
( 2001-03-19 16:22 ) (7 )

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday he had ordered security meetings with the Palestinians as he headed to the United States for talks with US President George W. Bush, hoping to secure support for his handling of the conflict with the Palestinians.

Starting his first trip abroad since taking office 11 days ago, the hardline Sharon told reporters on his plane he had "ordered the resumption of security discussions with the Palestinians aimed at operations to reduce the violence where possible."

"We do not know what the results will be" of the meetings, said Sharon, who said the talks would involve only security officials and not be political in nature.

Talks leading to a political settlement cannot resume "as long as there are murders and attacks," he said.

Sharon said meetings would take place in the coming days and confirmed that Avi Dichter, head of Israel's internal security service Shin Beth, had met with Palestinian security officials Saturday night.

Sharon on Saturday warned Arafat that an easing of a choking siege of the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be cancelled if the Palestinians did not put an end to violence and resume security cooperation.

On departure, Sharon said the trip was aimed at strengthening the "special relationship" between Israel and its closest ally and presenting his government's positions on the Middle East and the future of the peace process.

"We believe in the principle that the settlement of differences and conflicts must be done through peaceful means and through negotiations," he said.

On the plane, Sharon said Israel and the United States were also united in the "fight against Islamic terorrism" and concerns over the "danger of ballistic weapons."

Israeli army radio said Sharon would present a plan seeking a three-month period of calm to enable negotiations with the Palestinians to resume on "long-term interim arrangements."

Palestinian minister for parliamentary affairs Nabil Amr said Washington should press Sharon to end the blockade, imposed since the explosion of violence that has killed almost 440 people in less than six months.

"We see no room for optimism but we hope that the American adminstration will show balance in dealing with Sharon," Amr told reporters, while also urging Washington to review its rejection of Palestinian demands for an international force to be deployed in the territories.

"The Americans should realize that nothing can be done without the Palestinians," referring to the fact that Bush has yet to invite Arafat to Washington.

Despite the close US-Israeli relationship, Sharon will likely face some hard questioning in Washington. The Bush administration has urged Israel to lift the blockade of the territories, which has crippled the Palestinian economy.

Israeli press reports said Sharon will also likely be quizzed by US officials on Israel's internationally condemned practice of assassinating Palestinians suspected of involvement in anti-Israeli attacks.

Sharon is to meet Bush on Tuesday and other top administration officials and congressional leaders during his trip, which will also take him to New York for talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and US Jewish leaders.

The National and Islamic forces, a coalition of Palestinian groups including Arafat's Fatah faction and the radical Islamic movement Hamas, denounced Washington for supporting the "murderer" Sharon and called for demonstrations on Wednesday to break the blockade that has devastated the economy.

Two Palestinians, one a 10-year-old boy, were injured Sunday when Israeli troops shot them with live ammunition during clashes near the Karni crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel, hospital sources said.

In the evening, an Israeli soldier was lightly injured by three mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip, in what a military source called the first time shells from the territory had fallen inside Israel.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres called the incident "very serious" and said Israel was waiting for Arafat's Palestinian Authority "to fulfill its commitments to put an end to the violence."

Last week, Zalman Shoval, a diplomatic advisor to Sharon, described Arafat as a "danger to regional stability" and accused him of "whipping up terror."

Israel announced Thursday it had arrested three members of Arafat's personal bodyguard Force 17 it said were involved in attacks that killed eight Israelis and who were planning a major bombing in Jerusalem.

Arafat, meanwhile, arrived Sunday evening in Jordan, where he will hold talks with King Abdullah II ahead of a two-day summit of Arab leaders in Amman due to open March 27.

Arafat also dispatched Palestinian international cooperation minister Nabil Shaath to London, Paris, Brussels and other European capitals to drum up support for Palestinian demands that a UN force be sent to the territories.

(Agencies)