Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is set to travel to Washington today for a Tuesday meeting with US president Bush. The two will be discussing the resumption of diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians following Operation Defensive Shield. While Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has labeled Yasser Arafat “irrelevant” and a “master terrorist”, the New York Times reported yesterday that President Bush will try to convince Sharon to renew contact with the PLO leader. Sharon will defend his position of refusing to deal with Arafat, by presenting the American president with a thick booklet that includes documents directly linking Arafat to many deadly attacks against Israelis.
In Washington Sharon will be meeting with other top US government officials including US Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Sharon will also be meeting with top representatives from the pro-Israel lobby known as AIPAC, as well as the Anti-Defamation league. In addition, Sharon is scheduled to travel to New York to meet with top Jewish leaders.
US President Bush invited Sharon to come to Washington after Israel agreed to pull back its troops from Yasser Arafat’s Ramallah compound this past week. Israel had kept Arafat confined to his headquarters for more than a month, following the Passover massacre carried out by an Arab homicide bomber.
In Washington Sharon will be meeting with other top US government officials including US Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Sharon will also be meeting with top representatives from the pro-Israel lobby known as AIPAC, as well as the Anti-Defamation league. In addition, Sharon is scheduled to travel to New York to meet with top Jewish leaders.
US President Bush invited Sharon to come to Washington after Israel agreed to pull back its troops from Yasser Arafat’s Ramallah compound this past week. Israel had kept Arafat confined to his headquarters for more than a month, following the Passover massacre carried out by an Arab homicide bomber.