JERUSALEM/ GAZA: ISRAEL P. M. MEETS FORMER SOVIET PRESIDENT GORBACHEV / PALESTINIAN MINISTER BELIEVES HAMAS WILL EVENTUALLY STOP TERROR ATTACKS

Record ID: 646001

  • Title: JERUSALEM/ GAZA: ISRAEL P. M. MEETS FORMER SOVIET PRESIDENT GORBACHEV / PALESTINIAN MINISTER BELIEVES HAMAS WILL EVENTUALLY STOP TERROR ATTACKS
  • Date: 23rd June 2003
  • Summary: (W7)JERUSALEM (JUNE 23, 2003) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON SHAKING HANDS WITH FORMER SOVIET UNION PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV CLOSE OF SHARON /PAN OF CLOSE OF GORBACHEV SMV (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON SAYING: "We are honoured to have here with us a group of the most prominent leaders of the world in the past. And I would like to welcome you in Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people for the last three thousand years and forever. You are mostly welcome here, you are among friends, and I am sure that we will have an interesting evening." VARIOUS, DELEGATIONS TAKING SEATS FOR MEETING WIDE OF CAMERAMEN AT MEETING VARIOUS, WIDE OF MEETING (2 SHOTS) WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AT NIGHT
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/ GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Gaza Jerusalem
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVADM9LKNO7EEKOGK73562GXH1FC
  • Story Text: Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev has had a meeting with ith Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem.
    Palestinian Minister of Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan has said he believes that Hamas will eventually halt attacks against Israel.
    Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday (June 23). This is the second day of Gorbachev's visit to the region for a two-day convention to discuss the future of the U.S.-led Middle East "Road Map" and to establish a Strategic Dialogue Centre.
    Sharon welcomed Gorbachev and other visitors to Jerusalem.
    "We are honoured to have here with us, a group of the most prominent leaders of the world in the past. And I would like to welcome you in Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people for the last three thousand years and forever. You are mostly welcome here, you are among friends, and I am sure that we will have an interesting evening," Sharon said.
    Palestinian Minister of Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan gave an interview about the Palestinian Authority's ability to take over security in the West Bank. Speaking from Gaza, Dahlan said:
    "Whether Hamas will declare today or tomorrow, eventually it will give a positive answer regarding the halt of the attacks against Israel and regarding the understanding they (Hamas leaders) reached with Prime Minister Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas). But all of these got nothing to do with the negotiation concerning the withdrawal of Israeli troops out of Gaza strip and the West Bank City of Bethlehem."
    "We have discussions about the total halting of attacks with the Hamas and all other Palestinian groups, because the attacks are being used as an excuse for Sharon to continue his operations. That is why we asked for a total stop of all attacks, whether if it is what we call 'occupation resistance' or what Israel calls 'terror', especially in the territories which will be given in the future to the Palestinian Authority," he added.
    Militant groups have been negotiating with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on a truce with Israel to end a cycle of violence that has battered the peace plan affirmed at a U.S.-led summit in Jordan on June 4.
    Hamas, whose suicide bombers have killed scores of Israelis in a 32-month-old uprising for statehood, said Israeli attacks on its commanders and other military measures in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were delaying its answer on a temporary truce.
    Another round of talks between Palestinian security minister Mohammed Dahlan and Israeli Major-General Amos Gilad on the possibility of a U.S.-brokered Israeli troop pullback in the Gaza Strip and West Bank city of Bethlehem ended inconclusively on Monday.
    Palestinian officials said there was no change in their position that for the deal to work, Israel must curtail its actions -- especially "assassinations" and raids in the territories. They also seeks the release of thousands of Palestinians detained in Israeli anti-militant sweeps.
    But Israeli officials have said the two areas would serve as limited proving grounds for the Palestinian Authority's ability to prevent militants from launching attacks, and withdrawals elsewhere could follow.
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