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| Israel-Palestine |
| Palestinian mortar fire violates truce: Sharon |
| 2005-04-10 |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has criticised a barrage of Palestinian mortar fire at Jewish settlements in Gaza as a "flagrant violation" of a truce deal. Mr Sharon flew to US President George W Bush's Texas ranch amid the worst outbreak of violence in Gaza since he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called a cease-fire in February. The Israeli Army said more than 70 mortars and rockets had been fired at Jewish settlements in Gaza since Saturday, after Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinian youths in the coastal strip. None of the Palestinian fire caused any casualties. A senior aide quoted Mr Sharon as saying: "The firing was a flagrant violation of the understanding achieved at Sharm el-Sheikh and it will be a central issue to be raised in my talks with President Bush". The trip was the Prime Minister's tenth to the United States since taking office in 2001 but his first taste of homestead hospitality that Mr Bush reserves for his most favoured foreign guests. Israeli officials said they expected Mr Bush to reaffirm at the meeting on Monday his strong backing for the Gaza withdrawal slated for July, the first removal of Jewish settlements from occupied land Palestinians want for a state. Clearing political hurdles to the pullout at home, Mr Sharon frequently cited Mr Bush's assurances during his previous US trip last April that Israel would not be expected to give up some large West Bank settlement blocs in future peace deals. Mr Sharon went a step too far for Washington by pledging last week to press ahead with construction of 3,500 homes for Israelis in a narrow corridor between the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim and Jerusalem. Palestinians fear the Maale Adumim project would largely cut off the West Bank, which would form the bulk of a future state, from the eastern Arab part of Jerusalem, which they want as its capital - a demand Israel rejects. The meeting will give the two leaders an opportunity to talk face-to-face for the first time about prospects for peace since the death in November of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his replacement by the moderate Mr Abbas. Mr Sharon has demanded stronger action by the Palestinian President to disarm militants. He also cited Iran's suspected nuclear arms program and events in Lebanon as subjects for discussion with Mr Bush. |
| Posted by:God Save The World |
| #1 hey Chirac - call Sharon and he'll tell ya what the guest room at the Crawford ranch looks like - Blair knows, geez, Koizumi's probably got his initial in the headboard. How's that EU constitution thing going? 55% against in France, huh? Tough shit |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-10 9:07:58 PM |