Sharon, meeting in Jerusalem last night with the UN Secretary-General, said that while dismantling the neighborhoods at present would be difficult due to the "preparations for disengagement," Israel would evacuate them in accordance with its previous commitments.

Annan is in Israel, together with many other world leaders, for the dedication of the new Yad Vashem Museum. He met today with leaders of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

Mr. Sharon briefed Annan on the situation with the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying that the the PA must fulfill its Roadmap commitments. He noted that the PA has not yet taken sufficient steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructures, though he said the situation has improved. Israel will not compromise on this demand, Sharon said: “Without genuine action by the Palestinians against terrorism, we will be unable to move anything forward.”

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan said that the UN was very happy over Israel’s desire to
coordinate disengagement matters with the Palestinians and said he hopes that the implementation of disengagement will lead to a return to the Roadmap process. He added that the PA must fulfill its commitments against terrorism and carry out the reforms discussed at the London conference. Sharon told his guest that Israel was disappointed at the lack of clear statements at the London conference regarding the war on terrorism and the need to dismantle its infrastructures.

It is not known if Sharon raised the issue of the 14 "reservations." In May 2003, the Cabinet voted to accept the Roadmap plan, but made it clearly contingent upon 14 "comments" it submitted to the Americans. The resolution stated: "The Government of Israel resolves that all of Israel's comments... will be implemented in full during the implementation phase of the Road Map." Sharon said at the time that the 14 reservations were "red lines beyond which we cannot and will not withdraw."

These reservations included the following points:
* There must be no terrorism during the process. The Palestinians will dismantle the existing security organizations and will form new organizations to combat terror, violence and incitement. Incitement must cease immediately and the Palestinian Authority must educate for peace.
* Full performance will be a condition for progress between phases and for progress within phases. The first condition for progress will be the complete cessation of terror, violence and incitement. Progress between phases will come only following the full implementation of the preceding phase.
* Declared references must be made to Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and to the waiver of any right of return for Palestinian refugees to the State of Israel.

Sharon and Annan also discussed the disengagement plan, and the Prime Minister emphasized once again that it "would be implemented according to the timetable agreed upon by the Government."

The Prime Minister also said that while there has been an improvement on the incitement issue in the media, the PA's education system continues to poison students against Israel, and that this constitutes an obstacle to peace.

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan said that the Holocaust was an "inconceivable disaster," commended the Prime Minister on the disengagement plan, and expressed his hopes that Israel’s budget issue will be "successfully resolved" so as to "enable the continuation of dealing with the important issues on the agenda."

The UN Secy.-Gen. said that Abu Mazen has carried out positive steps such as deploying his forces and carrying out arrests, and added that he hopes that Abu Mazen continues his efforts.

The two men also discussed the issues of Syria, Hizbullah and Iranian
involvement in Lebanon. Prime Minister Sharon noted that Israel supports
the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution #1559, which calls for Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon.

Prime Minister Sharon invited UN Secy.-Gen. Annan to join him on the “March
of the Living” in Poland in May.