Posted on 02/05/2002 2:43:03 PM PST by scratchgolfer
Sharon heads to Washington
By Herb Keinon
JERUSALEM (February 6) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will travel to Washington today for meeting with President George W. Bush, their fourth since Bush took office slightly more than a year ago.
They are scheduled to meet tomorrow. Sharon is to meet with Jewish leaders in New York on Friday and will return here after Shabbat.
Israeli diplomatic officials say the talks with Bush are likely to focus on Israel's next moves with the Palestinians, the threat from Iran, Syria's support for terror, and the next step in Bush's war on terrorism.
Sharon is also expected to suggest ways to increase international pressure on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, Sharon said only increased international pressure and the isolation of Arafat will spur him to act against the terror infrastructure.
Putin urged Sharon to renew dialogue with Arafat, according to the Russian presidential press service. The two exchanged their opinions about the developing situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Construction and Housing Minister Natan Sharansky met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on the final day of his two-day visit to Russia.
Speaking last night before a meeting with President Moshe Katsav, Sharon said Bush has not asked Israel to refrain from responding to terror acts.
"This is not one of the things for which we need permission or which someone can prevent us from doing," Sharon said. "Everyone knows Israel is willing to make painful compromises for true peace, but not willing to make any concessions regarding security."
Sharon also spoke with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.
"Today, I spoke with several heads of state and government," Sharon said. "In all of these talks, our position was again made clear; nobody challenged it. Our primary obligation is to provide security. If we stand on this, we will also reach a settlement and, I hope, future peace as well."
Relating to the recent threats coming from Iran, Sharon said "the citizens of Israel need to know the IDF and the government are taking all the necessary steps to protect them. We must be patient and calm, and be more self-confident.
"If this will be done, I believe there will be quiet and that it will be possible to make progress towards peace."
Sharon last met with Bush for an hour on December 2, during a visit to the US cut short by suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa.
A senior administration official described Sharon's visit as routine.
"President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon have met on a regular basis. This is just another one in a series of meetings," he said.
The official said the two will discuss the situation between Israel and the Palestinians and "regional issues," presumably Iraq and Iran.
(Janine Zacharia and news agencies contributed to this report.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.