Military

DATE=2/24/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= SHARON / PALESTINIANS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-313423

BYLINE= SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has lashed out at his Palestinian counterpart, and says he will never be able to reach a peace agreement with the current Palestinian government. V-O-A's Sonja Pace has more on the story from Jerusalem.

TEXT: The words were unusually harsh, even for the blunt-speaking Ariel Sharon.

In an interview published in the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronot, Mr. Sharon accused Ahmed Qureia of heading a government of lies and murder. He said Israel would never be able to negotiate a peace agreement with such a government.

The Prime Minister's words were apparently sparked by what he sees as Mr. Qureia's half-hearted condemnation of a suicide bomb attack Sunday, when a Palestinian militant blew himself up on a crowded bus in Jerusalem, killing eight people and injuring dozens more.

Mr. Qureia condemned the attack and urged a resumption of peace efforts. He also made reference to the timing of the bombing - which came just a day before the International Court of Justice in The Hague began hearings on the legality of a barrier Israel is building in and around the West Bank.

Mr. Sharon said the Palestinians were not concerned about the attack, but rather that it might hurt their case in The Hague. Israel says it is building the barrier to prevent suicide bombers from entering Israel.

Senior aides to Mr. Sharon and Mr. Qureia were to have met to try to arrange a long overdue meeting between the two prime ministers. But, Israel called off those preparatory meetings in protest over Sunday's bomb attack.

Mr. Sharon is seeking support among Israeli lawmakers and political groups for a unilateral disengagement plan from the Palestinians if peace efforts fail. The Prime Minister has talked of withdrawing most, if not all, Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and even some from the West Bank as part of such a move.

The Palestinians oppose any unilateral Israeli action that would dictate the terms of a final settlement. Mr. Sharon is also meeting some tough resistance from Israeli settler groups and rightwing and nationalist parties who see any dismantling of settlements as a betrayal. (SIGNED)

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