Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the AIPAC conference in Washington yesterday, saying, \"Jerusalem belongs to all the Jewish people - we in Israel are only custodians of the city… Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the holiest site to the Jewish people, is something you should stand up and speak out about. Jerusalem will remain united under the sovereignty of Israel - forever.\" He omitted this last sentence in his first speech as Prime Minister in the Knesset two weeks ago. Sharon\'s aides in Washington say that he will make a similar declaration when he meets with U.S. President George Bush today.
The Prime Minister also told AIPAC, \"I stand before you today first and foremost as a Jew. This strong Jewish identity is a central theme in my life and will be in carrying out my responsibilities as Prime Minister. I want to work to strengthen the relationship between Israel and Jews all over the world. I have established a national unity government to unite the people of Israel, but unity among Jews is vital worldwide. Unity is our source of strength…\"
He spoke of the need for Jewish-Zionist education, and called on Jews in U.S. to immigrate to Israel: \"We need all of you in Israel...\" The audience of hundreds of students and AIPAC supporters rapturously applauded this and many other statements by Sharon.
The Prime Minister expressed support for the Administration\'s refusal to invite Arafat for talks until he calls off the violence against Israel. Some elements in the State Department are taking a different stance, claiming that it is better to maintain a dialogue with Arafat rather than leave him \"out of the loop.\" The Israeli position is that Arafat will be more likely to put an end to the violence if he understands that the international community will not tolerate it.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also addressed the annual AIPAC conference in Washington yesterday, and said, \"We recognize that Israel lives in a very dangerous neighborhood. We will look for ways to strengthen and expand our valuable strategic cooperation with Israel so we can preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge and help manage the dangers it confronts. Our collaboration in missile defense is one prominent area that comes to mind in this regard...\" He also called on both parties to end violence, but in a veiled rebuke to the Palestinians, Powell said, \"Leaders must denounce violence, strip it of legitimacy... Turning to the United States or other outside parties to pressure one or another party or impose a settlement is not the answer.”
Prime Minister Sharon, in his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, raised the issue of the abducted and missing Israelis in Lebanon. Powell said that he was also personally moved by the matter, and promised Sharon that he would address it.
The Prime Minister also told AIPAC, \"I stand before you today first and foremost as a Jew. This strong Jewish identity is a central theme in my life and will be in carrying out my responsibilities as Prime Minister. I want to work to strengthen the relationship between Israel and Jews all over the world. I have established a national unity government to unite the people of Israel, but unity among Jews is vital worldwide. Unity is our source of strength…\"
He spoke of the need for Jewish-Zionist education, and called on Jews in U.S. to immigrate to Israel: \"We need all of you in Israel...\" The audience of hundreds of students and AIPAC supporters rapturously applauded this and many other statements by Sharon.
The Prime Minister expressed support for the Administration\'s refusal to invite Arafat for talks until he calls off the violence against Israel. Some elements in the State Department are taking a different stance, claiming that it is better to maintain a dialogue with Arafat rather than leave him \"out of the loop.\" The Israeli position is that Arafat will be more likely to put an end to the violence if he understands that the international community will not tolerate it.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also addressed the annual AIPAC conference in Washington yesterday, and said, \"We recognize that Israel lives in a very dangerous neighborhood. We will look for ways to strengthen and expand our valuable strategic cooperation with Israel so we can preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge and help manage the dangers it confronts. Our collaboration in missile defense is one prominent area that comes to mind in this regard...\" He also called on both parties to end violence, but in a veiled rebuke to the Palestinians, Powell said, \"Leaders must denounce violence, strip it of legitimacy... Turning to the United States or other outside parties to pressure one or another party or impose a settlement is not the answer.”
Prime Minister Sharon, in his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, raised the issue of the abducted and missing Israelis in Lebanon. Powell said that he was also personally moved by the matter, and promised Sharon that he would address it.