Palmahim Air Force Base, Nov 13: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday that he Israel is prepared to make compromises for the sake of peace but would not make concessions on security issues, without commenting on the new Palestinian government. Sharon was speaking before a group of more than 1,500 - air force personnel and activists from the United Israel Appeal-Jewish Federations of Canada, who were visiting the Palmahim Air Force Base on Israel's coastline south of Tel Aviv. One of Israel's arrow anti-missile batteries is stationed at the base, which is also used for test launchings of Israeli missiles.
Though he was speaking only a few hours after a new Palestinian cabinet was approved and sworn in, Sharon referred only in general to the three years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and did not comment on the new government, headed by Ahmed Qureia.
Sharon insisted that the Palestinians must crack down on violent groups responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israelis. Sharon held out the prospect of peace negotiations if violence is stopped, saying, "we are prepared to make painful compromises for the sake of real peace," but ruling out compromises over security issues. He did not elaborate.
One lesson from the three years of violence, he said, was that "the Palestinians have come to realize that they cannot force us to surrender through violence, terrorism and incitement."
Bureau Report