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Israel Today - February 21, 2003 - 19 Adar I, 5763

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says that in any future peace talks with the Palestinians, some real estate is not negotiable. "I don`t think there is any right to anyone to make any compromise when it comes to Jerusalem," Sharon told American Jewish leaders here in Jerusalem. "We are guardians of Jerusalem for future generations." Palestinians say that`s a non-starter, though they rejected former Prime Minister Ehud Barak`s offer of half of Jerusalem at the Camp David Summit in the summer of 2000. Considering that Sharon won the recent election by a landslide, that offer may not come around again.

Sharon also categorically rejected the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees who want to return to their former homes in Israel. "Israel will never accept that danger to occur. Never," he said. The right of return "means the destruction of Israel as [an] independent, democratic Jewish state." Even the most dovish Israelis oppose the right of return, but Palestinians say there can never be an agreement if this issue is not resolved.

Israeli troops killed two Palestinians terrorists today as they carried out separate attacks in the Gaza Strip. At the Erez border crossing, a Palestinian throwing hand grenades stormed an army post, but was shot dead by troops before inflicting any casualties. Nearby, a terrorist tried to infiltrate the Jewish settlement of Dugit, when he was spotted by soldiers and killed in a hail of gunfire. The Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for both attacks. The incidents follow yesterday`s arrest of eight suspected Islamic Jihad members in the US for alleged involvement in Palestinian terrorism.

Israeli officials say they`re moving closer to a deal with the US for additional aid and loan guarantees, to help offset the cost of more than two years of fighting with the Palestinians. Israeli and US officials discussed the matter yesterday in Washington. "We are in the process now of the end negotiation,” said Dov Weissglass, the chief of staff at the Prime Minister`s Office. Israel is already the biggest recipient of US aid, getting $3 billion a year. It wants an additional $4 billion in direct aid, and $8 billion in loan guarantees. "We recognize the impact on Israel of the ongoing war on the terrorism and of regional instability,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack. “We have great confidence in the Israeli economy and we are continuing to examine how the US can contribute to helping to ensure its bright future."