Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abu Mazen, co-leader - with Yasser Arafat - of the Palestinian Authority, met in Sharon's Jerusalem home this afternoon. The results of the meeting appeared to be dependent on one's point of view. Sharon's office said the meeting was "conducted in a pleasant atmosphere," while the PA said the meeting was "difficult."
Sharon told Abu Mazen that he cannot ignore the fact that incitement and terrorism have decreased - but that neither can he pass over the fact that the terrorist organizations are becoming stronger during this period of hudna (temporary ceasefire). "The Israeli public has the feeling," Sharon said, "that the hudna is fragile and dependent on the goodwill of individual terrorists."
Mr. Sharon told Abu Mazen that if the PA comes up with an effective and proven plan to fight terror and disarm terrorists, "Israel will be quite forthcoming in what it can do for the PA."
Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) asked for a massive release of PA security prisoners, including members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Sharon has already decided that he will respond positively, at least in part - but the special ministerial committee for the release of PA prisoners will convene only later this week.
PA sources say that out of some 6,200 prisoners, the vast majority of whom are terrorists, Abu Mazen demands the immediate release of 450 - those who have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. He also wants freedom for Ahmed Saadat, whose PFLP terror organization carried out the murder of Government Minister Maj.-Gen. (res.) Rehavam Ze'evi.
Other PA demands: a precise schedule of Israel's withdrawal to pre-Oslo War lines; the opening of the airport and seaport in Gaza; the removal of checkpoints and closures; and the freeing of Arafat from his 19-month lock-in in Ramallah.
Israel came towards the PA in issues of checkpoints and prisoners: Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz will sit with his aides in an effort to ascertain which, if any, counter-terrorism checkpoints can be removed to enable more convenient Arab traffic in the PA areas. In addition, Israel agreed that the list of prisoners to be released would not be dictated by Israel, but that the PA could have a say in those who are released.
Israel continued relaxing restrictions on the Arabs of Bethlehem today: Some 3,500 were allowed to take part in a Christian ceremony in Haifa today, and the number of work-permits to Bethlehem residents was recently increased. Yasser Arafat signed an order, once again, forbidding violence and incitement.
Outside the meeting, which took two hours, a group of several dozen citizens protested against the Road Map and a PLO state.
Sharon told Abu Mazen that he cannot ignore the fact that incitement and terrorism have decreased - but that neither can he pass over the fact that the terrorist organizations are becoming stronger during this period of hudna (temporary ceasefire). "The Israeli public has the feeling," Sharon said, "that the hudna is fragile and dependent on the goodwill of individual terrorists."
Mr. Sharon told Abu Mazen that if the PA comes up with an effective and proven plan to fight terror and disarm terrorists, "Israel will be quite forthcoming in what it can do for the PA."
Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) asked for a massive release of PA security prisoners, including members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Sharon has already decided that he will respond positively, at least in part - but the special ministerial committee for the release of PA prisoners will convene only later this week.
PA sources say that out of some 6,200 prisoners, the vast majority of whom are terrorists, Abu Mazen demands the immediate release of 450 - those who have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. He also wants freedom for Ahmed Saadat, whose PFLP terror organization carried out the murder of Government Minister Maj.-Gen. (res.) Rehavam Ze'evi.
Other PA demands: a precise schedule of Israel's withdrawal to pre-Oslo War lines; the opening of the airport and seaport in Gaza; the removal of checkpoints and closures; and the freeing of Arafat from his 19-month lock-in in Ramallah.
Israel came towards the PA in issues of checkpoints and prisoners: Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz will sit with his aides in an effort to ascertain which, if any, counter-terrorism checkpoints can be removed to enable more convenient Arab traffic in the PA areas. In addition, Israel agreed that the list of prisoners to be released would not be dictated by Israel, but that the PA could have a say in those who are released.
Israel continued relaxing restrictions on the Arabs of Bethlehem today: Some 3,500 were allowed to take part in a Christian ceremony in Haifa today, and the number of work-permits to Bethlehem residents was recently increased. Yasser Arafat signed an order, once again, forbidding violence and incitement.
Outside the meeting, which took two hours, a group of several dozen citizens protested against the Road Map and a PLO state.