The Prime Minister leaves for the U.S. on the backdrop of tension with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. After originally agreeing to have Gen. (res.) Meir Dagan head the talks with American mediator Gen. Zinni, Peres later changed his mind - and his top aide Avi Gil even resigned from the negotiating committee in protest of Dagan\'s appointment, claiming Dagan is \"too hawkish to lead the talks.\" Aides of Sharon and Peres met last night in an effort to resolve the problems.
Peres accused Sharon yesterday of \"bypassing\" him and of starting a \"second Foreign Ministry.\" The Prime Minister responded, \"I would like to remind you that previous negotiations have always been run by the Prime Minister\'s Office, not the Foreign Ministry; Uri Savir, Oded Eran, and Gilad Sher were named to head the negotiating teams by [Labor] Prime Ministers.\" Peres said that PA\'s team would be comprised of higher-ranking officials than Dagan, and Sharon said, \"They are trying to drag us into diplomatic negotiations, but I will not fall into the trap. The talks will deal only with achieving a ceasefire.\" Peres insisted, however, that ceasefire talks must also have \"political, emotional, economic, and broad-view elements.\"
Peres accused Sharon yesterday of \"bypassing\" him and of starting a \"second Foreign Ministry.\" The Prime Minister responded, \"I would like to remind you that previous negotiations have always been run by the Prime Minister\'s Office, not the Foreign Ministry; Uri Savir, Oded Eran, and Gilad Sher were named to head the negotiating teams by [Labor] Prime Ministers.\" Peres said that PA\'s team would be comprised of higher-ranking officials than Dagan, and Sharon said, \"They are trying to drag us into diplomatic negotiations, but I will not fall into the trap. The talks will deal only with achieving a ceasefire.\" Peres insisted, however, that ceasefire talks must also have \"political, emotional, economic, and broad-view elements.\"