In his address during the official state send-off at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stressed that Israel seeks peace and an end to the violence throughout Judea, Samaria & Gaza. Sharon said that he will \"present the U.S. President and his Administration with the assessments and positions of the government I head, regarding the situation in the Middle East, our relationships with our neighbors, and the future of the peace process.\"
Sharon will try to persuade his American hosts that his step-by-step approach is the only true answer in dealing with the current situation in the country at this time. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated that he feels “the new American administration and our new government will see eye to eye.”
Sharon\'s agenda includes meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and CIA Director George Tenet. Monday night, he will speak to the Israel lobby AIPAC. Tuesday morning, he will meet U.S. President George Bush in the White House. In his farewell speech, Sharon added: \" During the visit I will meet with leaders of Congress and Jewish Organizations, with an eye towards bolstering our relationship and the joint cooperation between us.\"
Sharon will try to persuade his American hosts that his step-by-step approach is the only true answer in dealing with the current situation in the country at this time. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated that he feels “the new American administration and our new government will see eye to eye.”
Sharon\'s agenda includes meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and CIA Director George Tenet. Monday night, he will speak to the Israel lobby AIPAC. Tuesday morning, he will meet U.S. President George Bush in the White House. In his farewell speech, Sharon added: \" During the visit I will meet with leaders of Congress and Jewish Organizations, with an eye towards bolstering our relationship and the joint cooperation between us.\"