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Sharon, Trusting Bush

(New York Times) - William Safire Although 11 Israeli cabinet members voted no or abstained, 12 were willing to gamble on Sharon's trust in Bush. Sharon said in a Sunday midnight telephone interview, "I'll see Abu Mazen again during the next few days and we'll continue to talk on how to act against terror. That's the important thing in the performance-based plan. That's the condition for progress between and within the phases. That Arafat controls most of the armed forces is a problem." "Fourteen points we brought to the attention of the White House will be implemented together with the road map," Sharon said. "The U.S. said these are real concerns that will be addressed 'fully and seriously.' We attached those 14 points to our government's resolution, and that provided us with a certain feeling of security. That, and the friendship and deep strategic cooperation that exists between our two countries." "I am willing to go far for a durable peace," said the Israeli leader, "but I will make no compromise on security. We are a very small country whose people are prepared to defend themselves by themselves. My historical responsibility is to preserve that capability."
2003-05-26 00:00:00
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