ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon adresses reporters ahead of upcoming elections

Record ID: 398478

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon adresses reporters ahead of upcoming elections
  • Date: 1st December 2005
  • Summary: WIDE OF SHARON AT CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2T6897GGNDGG2M5V19C71OKS
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed an editors' convention on Thursday (December 1) in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, outlining his plans for the future after recently quitting Likud and forming a breakaway party named 'Kadima'.
    Reacting to a show of support for his new Kadima Party from veteran politician Shimon Peres on Wednesday (November 30), Sharon said Peres was a "man with a vision" - valuable to any party.
    "I know Shimon Peres many years. I knew him. I was introduced to him by David Ben Gurion, bless his memory... I think that this is a very talented man with a vision that every party and I suppose any country, would be happy to have him serve with them, " Sharon said.
    Peres's widely expected move, following his surprise defeat in a Labour leadership ballot on November 9, was a vote of confidence by the Nobel peace laureate in Sharon's pledge to make "painful concessions" for peace with the Palestinians.
    Sharon quit the Likud Party which he himself formed after saying that it was no longer the party in which to forge future political deals.
    "I am looking forward (Kadima) now and I want to reach, and I know it's not easy, to reach to a political deal and God willing in the future also peace. I did not see this interest in the body that I headed for many years and with this I must say I saw it was inappropriate to cancel my time and also make big efforts to take care of all sorts of personal problems and differences of opinion of this or that rebel. So I reached the conclusion we must go another way to really reach the opportunity of a political solution," Sharon said.
    Sharon also stressed that Israel was watching with growing concern Iran's efforts to achieve nuclear capabilities and the current situation was unacceptable by Israel.
    "We must understand that Israel, and not only Israel, cannot accept a situation where Iran will have nuclear weapons. This matter is clear and known to us and we are making all necessary preparations to be prepared for a situation like this. I have said it more than once - Israel does not stand in the front of this struggle. The threat is not only for Israel, it is of course a threat to Israel, the Middle East and many other countries in the world," he said.
    Sharon also spoke about upcoming Palestinian elections scheduled for January 2006. Sharon reiterated Israel's concerns over the Islamic militant group Hamas's participation in the elections.
    "We consistently object this matter, and upon this we will act. We do not accept a terror organisation which its main objective is the elimination of the state of Israel. We do not accept it as a partner for negotiations with Israel," Sharon told reporters.
    Hamas, if it decides to take part in the elections on January 25, is expected to pose a serious challenge to the Palestinian Fatah leadership which recently failed to carry out its primaries to choose candidates for parliament.
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