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Arab refusal to accept Israel at root of conflict: Sharon
Jerusalem, Oct 13: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a gathering of Christians here that the Arab world`s refusal to accept the rights of Jews was at the root of the present conflict with the Palestinians.
Jerusalem, Oct 13: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a gathering of Christians here that the Arab world's refusal to accept the rights of Jews was at the root of the present conflict with the Palestinians.
Sharon, who has been accused of heading a "war government" by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after a recent air strike on Israel's Arab neighbour, said the Palestinian Intifada was just the latest chapter of a history of enmity from the Arabs.
"For the past three years, we have been facing a war imposed on US by the Palestinians but it's a struggle that started over 100 years ago," he told 3,000 Christian supporters of Israel, referring to the ongoing Palestinian Intifada. "Its root cause is a refusal of the Arab world to accept and reconcile (with) the Jewish people," he added.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak charged yesterday that "Sharon wants to open new fronts here and there", adding that his policies meant the people of Israel would not be able to live in peace.
But Sharon insisted Israel was committed to a "real, durable peace that will last for generations" and that it was willing to make painful compromises to achieve it. He added however that he would not "make any concessions when it comes to the security of Israel and its citizens."
"Israel will not surrender, will never surrender, to pressure or violence and terror," he added.
Bureau Report
"For the past three years, we have been facing a war imposed on US by the Palestinians but it's a struggle that started over 100 years ago," he told 3,000 Christian supporters of Israel, referring to the ongoing Palestinian Intifada. "Its root cause is a refusal of the Arab world to accept and reconcile (with) the Jewish people," he added.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak charged yesterday that "Sharon wants to open new fronts here and there", adding that his policies meant the people of Israel would not be able to live in peace.
But Sharon insisted Israel was committed to a "real, durable peace that will last for generations" and that it was willing to make painful compromises to achieve it. He added however that he would not "make any concessions when it comes to the security of Israel and its citizens."
"Israel will not surrender, will never surrender, to pressure or violence and terror," he added.
Bureau Report