According to a reported published in "Foreign Report", Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met secretly with PLO terrorist leader Muhamad Abbas (better know to Israelis by his nom de guerre, Abu Mazen).
According to the "Report", Sharon, at the time of the recent London PLO conference, decided to position himself for negotiations with the terrorist organization, assuming that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will focus its efforts on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Sharon anticipates that after the war, U.S. will demand that Israel reach a settlement with the Arabs.
Abbas, one of Yasir Arafat's closest advisors, and considered by many to be slated to succeed the terrorist chief to the top spot in the PLO, has denied that he met with Sharon. "I did not meet with Sharon, or with any other senior Israeli. If I had, I would have reported on it openly, because I have no qualms about such meetings," said Abbas.
Sharon also seems to be ready, at least, to have such meetings, according to the "Report". The Report's Israeli sources say that the Prime Minister has expressed his willingness to meet with all PLO officials, except for Yasir Arafat. Despite the ban on Arafat, the sources noted that Abbas and other PLO leaders with whom Sharon has met periodically, routinely report back to Arafat. "So long as Arafat keeps a low profile, this presents no problem for Sharon," they said.
"Foreign Report" quoted what it considers "insider sources" who told the journal: "Sharon knows very well that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will have to compensate the Arabs, and Israel will have to pay part of the price."
According to the "Report", Sharon, at the time of the recent London PLO conference, decided to position himself for negotiations with the terrorist organization, assuming that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will focus its efforts on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Sharon anticipates that after the war, U.S. will demand that Israel reach a settlement with the Arabs.
Abbas, one of Yasir Arafat's closest advisors, and considered by many to be slated to succeed the terrorist chief to the top spot in the PLO, has denied that he met with Sharon. "I did not meet with Sharon, or with any other senior Israeli. If I had, I would have reported on it openly, because I have no qualms about such meetings," said Abbas.
Sharon also seems to be ready, at least, to have such meetings, according to the "Report". The Report's Israeli sources say that the Prime Minister has expressed his willingness to meet with all PLO officials, except for Yasir Arafat. Despite the ban on Arafat, the sources noted that Abbas and other PLO leaders with whom Sharon has met periodically, routinely report back to Arafat. "So long as Arafat keeps a low profile, this presents no problem for Sharon," they said.
"Foreign Report" quoted what it considers "insider sources" who told the journal: "Sharon knows very well that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will have to compensate the Arabs, and Israel will have to pay part of the price."