According to a reported published in Foreign Report, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met secretly with PLO terrorist leader Muhamad Abbas - better know by his nome de guerre Abu Mazen. Both alleged participants, or their spokesmen, deny that the meeting took place.
Foreign Report states that Sharon is under the assumption that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will focus its efforts on the Arab-Israeli conflict, and to this end will exert great pressure on Israel. Sharon thus met with Abbas in order to position himself for negotiations with the PLO. Abbas is considered one of Arafat's closest advisors, as well as a leading contender to succeed Arafat. "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.
The Foreign Report notes that Prime Minister Sharon has expressed his willingness to meet with all PLO officials except Yasser Arafat. Despite the ban on Arafat, the quoted sources noted that Abbas and other PLO leaders with whom Sharon has met routinely report back to Arafat. "So long as Arafat keeps a low profile, this presents no problem for Sharon," they said.
Foreign Report states that Sharon is under the assumption that after the war with Iraq, the U.S. will focus its efforts on the Arab-Israeli conflict, and to this end will exert great pressure on Israel. Sharon thus met with Abbas in order to position himself for negotiations with the PLO. Abbas is considered one of Arafat's closest advisors, as well as a leading contender to succeed Arafat. "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.
The Foreign Report notes that Prime Minister Sharon has expressed his willingness to meet with all PLO officials except Yasser Arafat. Despite the ban on Arafat, the quoted sources noted that Abbas and other PLO leaders with whom Sharon has met routinely report back to Arafat. "So long as Arafat keeps a low profile, this presents no problem for Sharon," they said.