Likud Knesset Members made a day-long visit to Ariel today, one of the two cities in Yesha (the other is Ma\'aleh Adumim). The MKs met with settlement leaders, heard security briefings, and held a political-diplomatic discussion. Prime Minister Sharon said there that the Americans have their own interests in the Middle East. \"They want to increase their activity against Iraq,\" he said, \"and they therefore want the Arab nations with them. I see this as a warning light.\" Regarding the security meetings with the Palestinians, Sharon said that they serve a healthy purpose of preventing clashes between the sides.
Yesha Council leaders met with Prime Minister Sharon on Tuesday night, in what was described as a \"difficult atmosphere.\" Sharon accused his competitor, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, of trying to drag him into a war.