Prime Minister Sharon said after his meeting with Powell that he is committed to U.S. President George Bush's June 24 vision of Middle East peace, but pointedly did not relate to the Road Map plan. He said that meetings would soon be held between Israeli and PA officials. A slight disagreement between him and Powell came to light when the latter said that a temporary terrorist ceasefire would be a "good start," while Sharon said that this would not be acceptable. Israel has long demanded that the terrorist infrastructures be dismantled and the terrorists be disarmed.
Analysts have noted that it is not only Hamas and Islamic Jihad that must be neutralized, but also the Fatah-Tanzim, which is under the direct control of the official PA but yet has recently carried out some of the most lethal attacks against Israel.
Powell said that he and Sharon had agreed on a number of measures that Israel would take to get the process started. He also said that he and Sharon had discussed the topic of Jewish civilian outposts in Judea and Samaria, and that it would be further discussed in the Sharon-Bush meetings in Washington next week.
Israel has already begun some of these gestures, releasing the first 60 of 200 Arab prisoners. Some of them were imprisoned for being in Israel illegally, while others for more serious offenses. Security officials are critical of the move, saying there is no justification for the release of prisoners without a genuine war against terrorism.
Analysts have noted that it is not only Hamas and Islamic Jihad that must be neutralized, but also the Fatah-Tanzim, which is under the direct control of the official PA but yet has recently carried out some of the most lethal attacks against Israel.
Powell said that he and Sharon had agreed on a number of measures that Israel would take to get the process started. He also said that he and Sharon had discussed the topic of Jewish civilian outposts in Judea and Samaria, and that it would be further discussed in the Sharon-Bush meetings in Washington next week.
Israel has already begun some of these gestures, releasing the first 60 of 200 Arab prisoners. Some of them were imprisoned for being in Israel illegally, while others for more serious offenses. Security officials are critical of the move, saying there is no justification for the release of prisoners without a genuine war against terrorism.