Sharon declared at the opening of this morning\'s cabinet session that negotiations toward a Palestinian state may not begin until the issue has been decided in the government. Talking with Arutz Sheva today, Gov\'t Spokesman Raanan Gissin rejected the term \"negotiations\" to describe the talks between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO official Abu Ala: \"There are no negotiations going on. I reiterate what the Prime Minister has said many times over the last weeks and again in today\'s government meeting: the sole purpose of the contacts is to bring about a cessation of violence, terrorism and incitement. That is the mandate that Mr. Peres has, and that is the purpose of the continuing contacts that he conducts with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority.\"
But Gissin did not deny that Peres is talking about a Palestinian state even before government approval. Regarding reports in Israel\'s daily Yediot Acharonot that Peres and Abu Ala are nearing agreement on a Palestinian State in almost half of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, Gissin said, \"Any ideas that are being raised and have not been brought to the government are clearly not representing the Israeli government position.\" Sharon admitted last week that he is fully aware of negotiations being held between Peres and Abu Ala.
National Union/Yisrael Beitenu (NUYB) faction leaders said that they were comforted by Sharon\'s declaration this morning against negotiations with the PLO before government approval. MKs Tzvi Hendel and Uri Ariel, who introduced a proposal to the NUYB central committee to back out of the coalition over the ongoing diplomatic contacts with the PLO, said that following Sharon\'s clarification, they favor staying in the government. Deputy Minister Yuri Shtern (NUYB) said today that he trusts Sharon\'s statement limiting Peres\' mandate to cease-fire talks only.
But Gissin did not deny that Peres is talking about a Palestinian state even before government approval. Regarding reports in Israel\'s daily Yediot Acharonot that Peres and Abu Ala are nearing agreement on a Palestinian State in almost half of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, Gissin said, \"Any ideas that are being raised and have not been brought to the government are clearly not representing the Israeli government position.\" Sharon admitted last week that he is fully aware of negotiations being held between Peres and Abu Ala.
National Union/Yisrael Beitenu (NUYB) faction leaders said that they were comforted by Sharon\'s declaration this morning against negotiations with the PLO before government approval. MKs Tzvi Hendel and Uri Ariel, who introduced a proposal to the NUYB central committee to back out of the coalition over the ongoing diplomatic contacts with the PLO, said that following Sharon\'s clarification, they favor staying in the government. Deputy Minister Yuri Shtern (NUYB) said today that he trusts Sharon\'s statement limiting Peres\' mandate to cease-fire talks only.