Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called upon Russian Jewry to immigrate en-masse to Israel. Appearing before representatives of the Jewish community in Moscow last night, Sharon said that Israel needs another million Jews in the coming years in order to guarantee its Jewish majority. He spoke of the success Israel has had over the past decade in absorbing the previous wave of a million Russian Jews, and expressed his confidence that it can be done again. The Prime Minister will return this afternoon to Israel.
Meeting with reporters in Moscow this mornig, Sharon strongly attacked Arafat, calling him a \"major obstacle to peace.\" He ruled out any resumption of negotiations at this time, saying that Arafat \"understands only the language of pressure.\" Sharon further said that Arafat cooperates with Bin Laden, Hamas, Hizbullah, and many other groups in his terrorism against Israel. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, on the other hand, said this morning that he intends to conduct a \"series of meetings\" with Arafat, \"for the purpose of stopping the violence and implementing the Mitchell Report.\"
Meeting with reporters in Moscow this mornig, Sharon strongly attacked Arafat, calling him a \"major obstacle to peace.\" He ruled out any resumption of negotiations at this time, saying that Arafat \"understands only the language of pressure.\" Sharon further said that Arafat cooperates with Bin Laden, Hamas, Hizbullah, and many other groups in his terrorism against Israel. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, on the other hand, said this morning that he intends to conduct a \"series of meetings\" with Arafat, \"for the purpose of stopping the violence and implementing the Mitchell Report.\"