Prime Minister Ariel Sharon landed at Ben Gurion International Airport this afternoon, following his visit in Washington and New York. He read aloud a prepared statement, and then answered reporters\' questions. The Prime Minister said that he made his government\'s position clear to the Americans regarding new guidelines for the \"peace process,\" and added that he emphasized \"our commitment not to conduct negotiations under the pressure of terrorism and violence.\"
Sharon continued, \"I discovered in the Bush administration a shared concern regarding terrorism, and admiration for Israel and its commitment to protect it citizens... [Bush] objects to forcing a solution on the sides. I made it clear that we reserve the right to use the good services of the U.S. on the long road to peace.\" The Prime Minister further said that the Americans expressed their recognition of Israel as a \"partner in the development of defense and deterrence systems against the growing threat of ballistic missiles.\"
Sharon was first asked how he would change the government\'s defense policy, in the face of the terrorist and shelling attacks of the last few days that the army described as \"the crossing of red lines.\" His answer: \"Even before I leave the airport, I will hold a consultation with the defense and security elements, and decide on our next moves in the face of the escalation of Palestinian terrorism, which is aided also by Hizbullah. I plan to restore the security to Israeli citizens.\" He said that he will not dismantle any Israeli towns in Gaza: \"Kfar Darom was originally built in 1946... To dismantle Kfar Darom is like dismantling Kfar Saba [an Israeli city in the Coastal Plain].\"
Israel\'s daily newspapers had conflicting advice for Prime Minister Sharon in this regard. Ma\'ariv cautioned Sharon not to \"overplay\" this honeymoon period with the Bush administration, and warns, “If the violence worsens and the Sharon government is dragged into taking various punitive measures, Washington will join the international criticism of Israel.” HaTzofeh, on the other hand, notes that Bush “has made it clear to Yasser Arafat that he will not be welcome at the White House as long as the terrorism continues,” and recalls that US Secretary of State Colin Powell “has not flinched from condemning Palestinian terrorism.” Therefore, the editorial continues, “in light of the fact that Palestinian terrorism is continuing in full force, it must be struck merciless blows, and the other side must be put on the defensive.”
Sharon continued, \"I discovered in the Bush administration a shared concern regarding terrorism, and admiration for Israel and its commitment to protect it citizens... [Bush] objects to forcing a solution on the sides. I made it clear that we reserve the right to use the good services of the U.S. on the long road to peace.\" The Prime Minister further said that the Americans expressed their recognition of Israel as a \"partner in the development of defense and deterrence systems against the growing threat of ballistic missiles.\"
Sharon was first asked how he would change the government\'s defense policy, in the face of the terrorist and shelling attacks of the last few days that the army described as \"the crossing of red lines.\" His answer: \"Even before I leave the airport, I will hold a consultation with the defense and security elements, and decide on our next moves in the face of the escalation of Palestinian terrorism, which is aided also by Hizbullah. I plan to restore the security to Israeli citizens.\" He said that he will not dismantle any Israeli towns in Gaza: \"Kfar Darom was originally built in 1946... To dismantle Kfar Darom is like dismantling Kfar Saba [an Israeli city in the Coastal Plain].\"
Israel\'s daily newspapers had conflicting advice for Prime Minister Sharon in this regard. Ma\'ariv cautioned Sharon not to \"overplay\" this honeymoon period with the Bush administration, and warns, “If the violence worsens and the Sharon government is dragged into taking various punitive measures, Washington will join the international criticism of Israel.” HaTzofeh, on the other hand, notes that Bush “has made it clear to Yasser Arafat that he will not be welcome at the White House as long as the terrorism continues,” and recalls that US Secretary of State Colin Powell “has not flinched from condemning Palestinian terrorism.” Therefore, the editorial continues, “in light of the fact that Palestinian terrorism is continuing in full force, it must be struck merciless blows, and the other side must be put on the defensive.”