Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who arrived in Washington last night, will begin his meetings with a talk today with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and an appearance at the AIPAC lobby group. He will meet with President George Bush tomorrow, and will attempt to persuade him that Arafat no longer has a place in the future of the Middle East. He seems to have an ally in National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, who said yesterday that the \"current direction of the Palestinians\" under Arafat\'s leadership does not allow for the establishment of a Palestinian state.\" On the other hand, Secretary of State Colin Powell said last night that it is \"clear to the Administration that something has to be done\" with the settlements in Judea and Samaria, and that it will be raised with Prime Minister Sharon.