Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that Yasser Arafat would be allowed to leave Israel once the Tenet Agreement has begun to be implemented. Speaking at a joint press conference with US Vice President Cheney, who completed a 21-hour visit to Israel this morning, Sharon was asked if Arafat would also be allowed to return once he leaves. The Prime Minister said that if Arafat is allowed to fly to Beirut for the Arab League conference, \"We would hope to hear him give a speech emphasizing the importance of peace and regional stability\" - but if there is incitement and terrorism instead, \"then the Cabinet will convene and decide what to do.\"
Sharon reiterated that he would be willing to make \"painful concessions on behalf of true peace,\" but that there would be no compromise on Israel\'s security needs. He said that Israel strives for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on the Tenet/Mitchell plans as steps towards a final-status agreement. Sharon was then asked the following question: \"Your government said that the goal of its campaign against terrorism was to get the PA to ask for a ceasefire; but now, the one asking for a ceasefire is Israel. Does this indicate that the Israeli anti-terrorism offensives failed?\"
Sharon responded that the IDF campaign against terrorism had many great successes, and that he would expect Israeli IDF Army Radio to emphasize these, instead of looking for the shortcomings. Coincidentally, members of the newly-formed Movement for Fair Journalism demonstrated today outside Israel Television, and plan to do the same outside the offices of Israel Radio and Army Radio.
Sharon reiterated that he would be willing to make \"painful concessions on behalf of true peace,\" but that there would be no compromise on Israel\'s security needs. He said that Israel strives for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on the Tenet/Mitchell plans as steps towards a final-status agreement. Sharon was then asked the following question: \"Your government said that the goal of its campaign against terrorism was to get the PA to ask for a ceasefire; but now, the one asking for a ceasefire is Israel. Does this indicate that the Israeli anti-terrorism offensives failed?\"
Sharon responded that the IDF campaign against terrorism had many great successes, and that he would expect Israeli IDF Army Radio to emphasize these, instead of looking for the shortcomings. Coincidentally, members of the newly-formed Movement for Fair Journalism demonstrated today outside Israel Television, and plan to do the same outside the offices of Israel Radio and Army Radio.