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 a gathering of the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby. Sharon will meet with President George Bush tomorrow, and will attempt to persuade him that Arafat has no place in the future of the Middle East. The Prime Minister 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 this matter will be raised with Prime Minister Sharon.



Education Minister Limor Livnat, who is accompanying Prime Minister Sharon in Washington, will present to her American hosts today an Israeli Intelligence report showing Saudi Arabian support for Hamas and other suicide terrorist elements. The report is based on documents found by Israeli forces during Operation Defensive Shield. Bush hosted Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in his Texas ranch two weeks ago, and it is widely assumed that the \"peace plan\" Bush will propose to Sharon is based on Saudi ideas.



A European Union spokesman said today that the EU is relating \"with the utmost gravity\" to Israeli accusations and documentation that Arafat used European donations for terrorist purposes.