Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon may end up receiving the resignation of his foreign minister, Shimon Peres, after the two exchanged harsh words on Sunday over the occupation of Orient House, sources told Radio Israel.
The squabble took place Sunday morning at a cabinet meeting that will reconvene later in the day.
According to Peres, the occupation by Israeli forces of the PLO’s offices Jerusalem, including Orient House, is a mistake. He was quoted as demanding that Israel start negotiating with the Palestinian Authority immediately, without waiting for a complete end to attacks by resistance fighters.
The minister cited the example of North Ireland to prove his point.
He said that despite a recent car bomb attack in London by Real IRA, talks to reach a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement were continuing.
Meanwhile, a group of demonstrators from Israel's right wing rallied outside the meeting carrying banners with the slogan "Death to Peres.”
The radio station said that Sharon strongly condemned the banners and warned of their future impact.
According to Haaretz, Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer supports Peres' position and believes there is no military solution to the violence.
The paper said that Peres had been under pressure from his Labor Party supporters to resign from the national unity government with Sharon.
Peres, however, reportedly believes he can convince the prime minister of the importance of talking with Arafat. Sharon opposes holding negotiations as long as Palestinian resistance actions continue, and will only agree to allow talks between Peres and Arafat after these end.
Sharon also reportedly sees a need for massive international pressure on Arafat to stop what the prime minister calls "violence and terror."
Meanwhile, Sharon will meet today with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield, and will discuss the implications of the closure of the Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem.
The United States wants to know when Israel will return Orient House to the Palestinians and what its criteria are for doing so.
Administration representatives raised this question during phone conversations between Sharon and Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as in face-to-face talks held by Daniel Ayalon, Sharon's foreign policy advisor, in Washington on Friday, said the paper – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
