Posted on 11/13/2002 4:59:58 PM PST by HAL9000
A Palestinian State is "a fact accomplished", according to Sharon
Wednesday November 13, 2002 - 21h25 GMT
JERUSALEM, Nov. 13 (AFP) - Israeli the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon recognized Wednesday that a Palestinian State constituted a "accomplished fact" and said itself opposed to the expulsion of the president of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat recommended by its rival the head of the diplomacy Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Sharon, questioned by the second chain of Israeli private television if a Palestinian State were an accomplished fact, answered "yes". "All the bodies of a State exist: there is a president, a government, ministers ", it underlined.
"In the final analysis we will arrive to an agreement and peace, because that will constitute the true response to the economic situation of Israel", added the Prime Minister.
Several time in the past Mr. Sharon was declared favorable to creation of a Palestinian State but under conditions. In April 2001, it had evoked such a State by affirming that it should extend only on 42% from the West Bank.
One year afterwards, however, Mr. Sharon had been repudiated by the central committee Likoud, his own party, which decided against the idea even Palestinian State on the initiative of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Questioned on the explusion of Mr. Arafat claimed by the new head of the Israeli diplomacy, Mr. Sharon in addition ensured: "I pledged near the Americans on my arrival with the capacity not to carry reached to his physical integrity (of Arafat), and I intend to hold my promises".
"It is necessary to act with the direction of the responsibility and cold blood, on several occasions the persons in charge for the services of safety and the information (Israeli) decided against such an expulsion by estimating that it would cause damage for Israel", he added.
Mr. Sharon contradicted that "external pressures" were exerted on him to prevent a possible banishment or an elimination of Yasser Arafat.
Israeli the Prime Minister, by stressing that the creation of a Palestinian State could improve the situation of the Israeli economy which undergoes the worst recession of its history because especially of the impact of Intifada, thus dissociated himself from Mr. Netanyahu.
For this last, which recommended Tuesday at a meeting of the central committee of Likoud a simple mode of autonomy for the Palestinians, only a fall of the taxes would be able to cause an economic recovery.
How Very Clever of Bibi and Sharon !
You can say that again!
But perhaps he thinks this "state" is a "state of mind" in that having a president, congress, etc means that this state can be set up anywhere... including in Jordan.
But I truly believe that events are shaping up to create a Palestinian state in the west bank. I think Israel, from Rabin to Sharon, has basically conceded this point to the "quartet".
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