Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that he was prepared to open negotiations with a new Palestinian leadership after Yasser Arafat's depature, public radio reported. "If a new Palestinian leadership which is both serious and responsible emerges, it is possible that there can be a resumption on negotiations on the roadmap" peace plan, Sharon was quoted as saying at the weekly cabinet meeting. "I am not sure that that will happen," he added. High level Israeli-Palestinian talks have been frozen for more than a year and Israel has had no contact with Palestinian Authority leader Arafat since Sharon came to power in 2001.