JERUSALEM - Israel's prime minister says he endorsed
a historic plan for peace with the Palestinians because continued
fighting would be bad for both sides.
Ariel Sharon made the comment Monday, after facing hostility from
within his own Likud Party for accepting the U.S.-backed plan.
Ariel Sharon
|
The peace plan lays out the steps for putting a stop to violence
and creating a Palestinian state by 2005.
The Israeli cabinet endorsed the proposal Sunday by a vote of 12
to 7, with four abstentions.
Sharon heckled
Likud legislators heckled Sharon on Monday, reminding him that he
has long been a prominent opponent of Palestinian statehood. But
Sharon said keeping 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for
both Palestinians and Israelis.
Meanwhile, officials have begun making arrangements for a meeting
between Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. That's
expected to be held in a couple of days.
The meeting would pave the way for a summit between the two
leaders and U.S. President George Bush, which is expected next week.
Written by CBC News Online staff
AUDIO: CBC Newsworld's Christopher Thomas talks with
Hussein Ibish, communications director for the Arab-American
Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Email This Story
Printable Version