Prime Minister Sharon met with US President George Bush for over an hour yesterday in the Oval Office of the White House - without knowledge of the Rishon LeTzion massacre, as reflected by their smiling demeanor at a joint press conference. Bush announced that he would be sending CIA Director George Tenet to the region to design and construct what he called a \"unified [Palestinian] security force that will be transparent and held accountable [for controlling terror].\" He repeatedly stressed the necessity for the PA to have one command structure and not separate factions, as is the case now. He also adopted Sharon\'s stance regarding the importance of making reforms throughout the PA, including establishing a PA constitution, improving the healthcare system, and setting up a corruption-free treasury department.
President Bush repeatedly used the word ‘Palestine’ during the press conference, as if such a nation were already in existence. Prime Minister Sharon, on the other hand, seemed to distance himself from statements he made in recent weeks calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said that the topic did not arise in his talk with Bush, as the time was \"not yet ripe\" discuss it. Sharon confirmed that Bush asked him to freeze new housing for residents of Judea and Samaria, to which the Prime Minister responded that the future of the Yesha settlement enterprise would be discussed at the final stage of the negotiations.
Ittim correspondent Yoram Levy adds that Bush didn\'t take a stand in the dispute between National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice (who has implied that there is no room for Arafat in future arrangements) and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (who emphasizes that Arafat is the PA\'s chosen leader). When asked whether or not Sharon should negotiate with Arafat, Bush said only, “I am never going to tell my friend, the Prime Minister, what to do… He [Sharon] is a democratically-elected leader.\"
When Prime Minister Sharon was informed of the murderous Arab attack on Israeli civilians in Rishon LeTzion, he decided to cancel the New York leg of his trip and return to Israel. He had time only to place the blame squarely on Yasser Arafat:
“Those who call for millions of martyrs, are guilty! Those who constantly incite are guilty! Those who fund terrorism are guilty! Those who launch terrorism are guilty! Guilty!\"
Sharon said that the expulsion of Arafat was under consideration, adding that Israel could not continue a peace process with a \"corrupt terrorist entity,\" and, \"We will kill those who come to kill us.\"
Upon arrival in Israel this evening, Prime Minister Sharon will immediately convene the security cabinet at a military base near Ben Gurion International Airport. \"He was originally planning to first convene the coalition party leaders,\" correspondent Levy said, \"but he changed his mind, and will instead convene the security cabinet, whose decisions have legal status - a signal that a military offensive can be expected.\"
President Bush repeatedly used the word ‘Palestine’ during the press conference, as if such a nation were already in existence. Prime Minister Sharon, on the other hand, seemed to distance himself from statements he made in recent weeks calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said that the topic did not arise in his talk with Bush, as the time was \"not yet ripe\" discuss it. Sharon confirmed that Bush asked him to freeze new housing for residents of Judea and Samaria, to which the Prime Minister responded that the future of the Yesha settlement enterprise would be discussed at the final stage of the negotiations.
Ittim correspondent Yoram Levy adds that Bush didn\'t take a stand in the dispute between National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice (who has implied that there is no room for Arafat in future arrangements) and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (who emphasizes that Arafat is the PA\'s chosen leader). When asked whether or not Sharon should negotiate with Arafat, Bush said only, “I am never going to tell my friend, the Prime Minister, what to do… He [Sharon] is a democratically-elected leader.\"
When Prime Minister Sharon was informed of the murderous Arab attack on Israeli civilians in Rishon LeTzion, he decided to cancel the New York leg of his trip and return to Israel. He had time only to place the blame squarely on Yasser Arafat:
“Those who call for millions of martyrs, are guilty! Those who constantly incite are guilty! Those who fund terrorism are guilty! Those who launch terrorism are guilty! Guilty!\"
Sharon said that the expulsion of Arafat was under consideration, adding that Israel could not continue a peace process with a \"corrupt terrorist entity,\" and, \"We will kill those who come to kill us.\"
Upon arrival in Israel this evening, Prime Minister Sharon will immediately convene the security cabinet at a military base near Ben Gurion International Airport. \"He was originally planning to first convene the coalition party leaders,\" correspondent Levy said, \"but he changed his mind, and will instead convene the security cabinet, whose decisions have legal status - a signal that a military offensive can be expected.\"