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Two of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's senior aides will go to Washington for separate talks
this week. National Security Advisor Efraim Halevy will discuss
the regional implications of the Iraq war and the fall of the
Ba'ath regime, and the prime minister's bureau chief Dov Weisglass
will bring the White House Israel's comments on the "road
map" plan for a peace settlement.
Israel will suggest that the United States also take care of Iran
and Syria because of their support for terror and pursuit of
weapons of mass destruction. Israel will point out the support of
Syria and Iran for Hezbollah, which the U.S. considers an
important target in the war against international terrorism.
American officials recently said in closed conversations that the
U.S. will act against Syria and Iran, but not by military means.
The American administration is very angry with Syria for its
support of Iraq during the war and its willingness to take in
defectors from Saddam Hussein's regime. As for Iran, the
administration suggests working with the UN and Atomic Energy
Commission to halt the Iranian nuclear program.
Weisglass is scheduled to meet National Security Advisor
Condoleezza Rice and present Israel's reservations on the road
map. Senior government sources said Weisglass's goal is "to
make sure things that disturb us won't happen." The
administration has made it clear in advance that it is not ready
to reopen the road map for discussion and will present it to both
sides as is, after the new Palestinian government headed by Abu
Mazen is sworn in. Israeli sources assume Weisglass will try to
reach "agreed principles to implement the plan" with the
Americans that will take Israel's "red lines"into
consideration.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom spoke with his U.S. counterpart
Colin Powell on Friday to prepare for the talks. Shalom said
Israeli comments on the road map were meant "to facilitate
its implementation," and explain the political pressures on
Sharon's government. He said "our comments will help get the
road map approved by the cabinet."
Powell made it clear to Shalom that the road map will be presented
with no changes. Israel's comments on the road map stipulate,
inter alia, that every stage of its implementation will depend
entirely on performance and not on a schedule; that Israel will
act only in response to Palestinian moves, and not simultaneously;
that the Palestinians will be required to declare they renounce
the right of return; that freezing settlements will be done only
after a prolonged peaceful period; and that IDF activity in the
territories will not be restricted. Israel also asks that the
Saudi initiative should not become a source of authority for the
peace talks.
The security establishment is examining possible gestures of good
will for Abu Mazen, including the release of hundreds of
Palestinian prisoners and vacating territories in the north of the
Gaza Strip
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