Sharon willing to go to Arab summit-Israeli source

Reuters English News Service | JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters)

[TheOtherOne]

ISRAEL: Sharon willing to go to Arab summit-Israeli source.

 

13:20 ET

Reuters English News Service

(C) Reuters Limited 2002.

JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has suggested he should go to an Arab summit in Beirut next week to present Israel's position on a Saudi peace initiative, a senior Israeli political source said on Saturday.

The source told Reuters Sharon made the suggestion during talks with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney early this week.

It is unlikely that Sharon would be a welcome visitor to the Lebanese capital, where he is reviled for commanding Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon. U.S. officials had no immediate comment on the suggestion.

"Sharon said that he was ready to go to the Arab summit in Beirut to present Israel's views on the Saudi proposals. It is important the Arab states hear Israel's views," the source said.

"Cheney took note of it...but there has been no answer from the Americans."

In an interview with the Washington Post released on Saturday, Sharon made similar comments.

"In talking to the Americans, I suggested I'll go to Beirut to talk to the Arabs directly about what might be achieved and I would welcome an American initiative to advance such a move," Sharon told the newspaper.

The peace proposal, floated by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in February, calls for complete Israeli withdrawal from all Arab land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war in return for full normalisation of Arab ties with Israel.

Sharon has expressed interest in the initiative but said it could not replace U.N. resolutions which refer to Israel's right to live within "secure and recognised borders" after it withdraws from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights.

Israeli governments past and present have interpreted the resolutions as allowing them to retain some of the territories captured in 1967 for security reasons.

Sharon is also under international pressure to lift a three-month-old travel ban on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat so he can attend the March 27-28 Beirut summit, which is expected to focus on the Saudi proposal.

Sharon has said the restrictions imposed on Arafat would be lifted only if U.S.-brokered talks between the sides produce a ceasefire to halt 18 months of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed.

[a_witness]

"In talking to the Americans, I suggested I'll go to Beirut to talk to the Arabs directly about what might be achieved and I would welcome an American initiative to advance such a move," Sharon told the newspaper.

Good move on his part

[xm177e2]

Here's my plan for possible peace...

I don't see what good it would do for Sharon to go to the Arab league summit. It's not like the negotiations are failing because of an Israeli failure to communicate...

[Rustynailww]

he could bring pastries.

[Cachelot]

A good brave move by Sharon. The Arab summit is a total farce if he is not welcomed

Actually, Sharon could redeem his uselessness if he brought a backpack nuke, plonked it on the table and glassed the place.

5 megatons should do nicely.

[TheOtherOne]

he could bring pastries.

I can just see the look on the Saudis. LOL.

[liberalism=failure]

LOL Very clever, but subtle

[ex-snook]

"Good move on his part "

Yes. His best move so far. But he can still gives his views anyway. Peace or violence for the indefinite future is on the table.

[liberalism=failure]

Sharon should just do what Arafat does.

Talk peace to the world community, while behind the scenes do everything he can to pound the Palestinians into dust.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Arabs will attempt to assasinate him if he goes. If that happens there will be a full blown war.

[crystalk]

Bad idea, they will kill him if he goes there.

And I do not think Arafat should be allowed to go, either. I think he should be confined to the toilet only, of his quarters at Ramallah.

I think the Dome of the Rock ought to be destroyed on the opening day of this meeting, so they can have something worth while to talk about.

[Robert_Paulson2]

he could get a head.

[Robert_Paulson2]

... yes and no nasty looking heads to gross us out on the posted threads her or drudge...

[monkeyshine]

Great move. This, of course, will be downplayed. Just like Israel's pull out of areas A and B after Oslo have been downplayed by those who demagogue for the Palestinians under "brutal occupation" by forces who were nowhere in sight.

[monkeyshine]

ROFL! That's a wicked comment.

[Catspaw]

he could bring pastries.

ROTFLMAO!

[M Kehoe]

The Arabs will attempt to assasinate him if he goes.

I read the thread before I posted. A first. Yea!

And yes, sheik, Israel will unleash the dogs of war. It will be very ugly.

5.56mm

[JAWs]

Clever ploy. Of course they'll reject his presence, so it'll blow back PR wise.

[montag813]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has suggested he should go to an Arab summit in Beirut next week to present Israel's position on a Saudi peace initiative

BREAKING NEWS...SHARON'S ANSWER TO THE SAUDI PEACE PLAN REVEALED!!!

[HockeyPop]

Sort of reminds me of the scene in "The Outlaw Josie Wales" where Clint Eastwood, seeking to make peace, rides to the Indian camp and meets with their chief and one hundred of his braves. "Dying ain't hard for men like us. Its living that's hard when everything you've loved has been raped and butchered"..."There's iron in your words"..."There's iron in my holsters. I'm here to give you either one"

[sheik yerbouty]

World War III started 9/11/01.

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe he should stay home, let Yasser go to Beirut, and tell him not to bother tryng to come back.

[a_witness]

Peace or violence for the indefinite future is on the table.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

[Valin]

The peace proposal, floated by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in February, calls for complete Israeli withdrawal from all Arab land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war in return for full normalisation of Arab ties with Israel.

Question would this include East Jerusalem? If it does it's a non-starter, as Israel will never give it up.

[fso301]

After all Sharon has done to the arabs - they will meet with him ? I doubt it !

Sharon would have done even more had it not been for those superb overdrive reverse transmissions the Russians outfitted on tanks sold to Arab nations.