Sharon Booed for Willingness for "Painful Concessions"

The Likud convention in Jerusalem last night began in a festive atmosphere as the Central Committee welcomed its many new members. Over half of the some 2,500 members were elected to their posts only this month, and the presence of many Yesha residents was clearly felt. Catcalls interrupted Prime Minister Sharon's speech several times, especially when he repeated his willingness to make "painful concessions for peace." He later qualified his words by saying that it must be "true and full peace, in which the People of Israel will live in its land with full security, free of the threats of murder in a Jewish and democratic state, whose capital is united and undivided Jerusalem." Ha'aretz reported today that Prime Minister Sharon offered the Labor Party a deal determining the composition of the next government even before the elections.