Rome, Oct 31: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a newspaper interview that he will never meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat but is holding talks with other Palestinian officials to revive the Middle East peace process. In an interview published in Milan Daily Corriere Della Sera yesterday, Sharon was also quoted as saying he has promised US President George W Bush never to physically attack Arafat.
"I agree on (the idea of) a Palestinian state and I want to refer to what Bush said when he foresees two states, Israel and Palestine, living together in peace and security," Sharon was quoted as saying. "I will never meet Arafat, but I'm holding direct talks with other people," Sharon said. He refused to identifies them on grounds they might be killed if their names came out.
"Arafat thinks he can bend us by increasing our losses, but there is a growing number of people among the Palestinians who are really thinking about peace. That's why I'm optimistic," he said, according to Corriere.



Israel accuses Arafat of doing nothing to prevent attacks by Palestinians militias and suicide bombers or even encouraging some acts of terror. The Palestinians say that repeated Israeli military incursions and attacks have decimated their security forces and make it impossible for them to stop the militants.


While saying he would never negotiate with Arafat, Sharon said he would never give orders to have to injure or kill the Palestinian leader.


Bureau Report