Sharon lays ground rules for Palestinian state

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon set out sweeping security conditions yesterday for the potential recognition of a Palestinian state and said he would lead any future peace talks.

Sharon's remarks followed strong expressions of support for a Palestinian state by the United States and Britain this month as they sought a solution to the Middle East conflict to help win Arab backing for an anti-terror campaign.

US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have both appealed to Arab public opinion with statements in support of a Palestinian state.

The death of a Palestinian militant yesterday in an unexplained explosion in the Gaza Strip drew vows of revenge from the Islamic group Hamas for the deaths of three of its members in the past three days.

The latest death indicated the fragility of attempts to end the violence and return to negotiations, which depend on both sides implementing a US-backed truce-to-talks plan.

Sharon told members of his right-wing Likud Party that a Palestinian state would have to be created as part of a treaty that fulfils "all of our security demands". "We are talking about a demilitarised state, a state with a police force, a state where we will deploy [forces] on its external borders."

He added that the terms of a Palestinian state would also include a ban on signing agreements with countries hostile to Israel and preservation of Israeli overflight rights.

Israel would also keep Jerusalem as its capital.

Sharon has said previously he would accept a Palestinian state as the eventual outcome of a peace deal, but indicated borders that Palestinians say fall far short of their demands - including their claim on Arab East Jerusalem for a capital.

Palestinian minister Hassan Asfour said Sharon's latest remarks ignored the Palestinians' internationally recognised right to independence. "A Palestinian state is not a gift from Sharon and is not negotiable."

The YESHA council of Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip - where the Palestinians seek to build their state - said it would "fight ... against any attempt to establish a Palestinian state".

- REUTERS

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