Although recent requests by right-wing media such as Arutz-7 and Makor Rishon newspaper to interview Prime Minister Sharon have been met with a series of excuses and explanations that add up to \"No,\" Mr. Sharon did agree to speak with Channel Two television\'s Oshrat Kotler last night. The Prime Minister explained why he met with three PA leaders last week:
\"I saw of late that the Palestinians don\'t really fully understand what Israel demands in order to start the diplomatic process… I also wanted to hear their requests…\"
Asked what agreements he and the PA figures came to, Sharon said,
\"One thing we agreed on was the renewal of the security committee meetings between us, both with and without American participation... It was also agreed that we would meet again after I return from the U.S.\"
Sharon explained his five demands upon the PA:
\"First, the arrest of all the terrorists, and their genuine incarceration in prison - not one of them is in prison today - and their interrogation and punishment. Secondly, the dismantling of all the terrorist organizations and their infrastructures - Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front, Tanzim, and the Presidential Guard forces that act against us. I would point out that 50% of the attacks are carried out by Arafat\'s Tanzim and his Presidential Guard… Thirdly, collection of all illegal weapons - there are very many of them - and giving them to American representatives for destruction. Fourth, they must take serious preventative measures [against terrorism], and fifth - the cessation of incitement. This is what I call 100% effort, and [is more important than] individual shootings here or there...\"
The Prime Minister said that they did not discuss any diplomatic issues, except for one:
\"I told them that there is a difference between the plan that Shimon Peres presented [to the PA\'s Abu Ala] and the program that I see. Peres speaks of dates, but I don\'t; I speak of one stage where there is a form of armistice in which the relations between ourselves and the Palestinians develop, and then if they in fact proceed in a way that allows for progress, we can start negotiating a permanent agreement.\"
The Prime Minister reacted with disdain to Arafat\'s op-ed in the New York Times yesterday. His comments on this matter appear below.
\"I saw of late that the Palestinians don\'t really fully understand what Israel demands in order to start the diplomatic process… I also wanted to hear their requests…\"
Asked what agreements he and the PA figures came to, Sharon said,
\"One thing we agreed on was the renewal of the security committee meetings between us, both with and without American participation... It was also agreed that we would meet again after I return from the U.S.\"
Sharon explained his five demands upon the PA:
\"First, the arrest of all the terrorists, and their genuine incarceration in prison - not one of them is in prison today - and their interrogation and punishment. Secondly, the dismantling of all the terrorist organizations and their infrastructures - Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front, Tanzim, and the Presidential Guard forces that act against us. I would point out that 50% of the attacks are carried out by Arafat\'s Tanzim and his Presidential Guard… Thirdly, collection of all illegal weapons - there are very many of them - and giving them to American representatives for destruction. Fourth, they must take serious preventative measures [against terrorism], and fifth - the cessation of incitement. This is what I call 100% effort, and [is more important than] individual shootings here or there...\"
The Prime Minister said that they did not discuss any diplomatic issues, except for one:
\"I told them that there is a difference between the plan that Shimon Peres presented [to the PA\'s Abu Ala] and the program that I see. Peres speaks of dates, but I don\'t; I speak of one stage where there is a form of armistice in which the relations between ourselves and the Palestinians develop, and then if they in fact proceed in a way that allows for progress, we can start negotiating a permanent agreement.\"
The Prime Minister reacted with disdain to Arafat\'s op-ed in the New York Times yesterday. His comments on this matter appear below.