Sharon, Qurei plan summit next week

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 11, 2004

Sharon, Qurei plan summit next week

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Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers have tentatively agreed to hold a summit next week, their first meeting since the Palestinian leader took office in October, Israeli and Palestinian officials said yesterday.

The long-delayed summit will address several issues including a proposed Israeli pullout from Gaza and efforts to restart the US-backed "roadmap" peace plan, senior officials from both sides said.

The summit was planned for Tuesday, a senior Palestinian official said.

However, Hassan Abu Libdeh, an adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, said the date is not definite and will depend on the outcome of a preparatory meeting on Sunday between the leaders' aides.

"We are discussing various issues and if we agree on these issues then there will be no obstacles to a meeting," Abu Libdeh said.

Raanan Gissin, a Sharon adviser, said: "there are discussions about possibly holding a meeting on this date, but it cannot be confirmed."

Israeli media reported the main topic at the summit would be Sharon's plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a proposal that could include the removal of most Jewish settlements in the coastal area.

Qurei and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon have delayed meeting for months. Qurei has said he wanted a summit to yield results, such as an easing of restrictions on Palestinians.

It was not immediately clear whether Sharon had given any new assurances.

Meanwhile, a key Israel adviser on Israel's West Bank separation barrier, told the Israeli Haaretz daily that the government had decided against building a section of the contentious structure that would encircle Palestinians, another sign Israel is backing down on its original plans for the barrier.

The report came amid a flurry of diplomatic meetings on Sharon's withdrawal proposal.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah yesterday to discuss the plan. Egypt fears a power vacuum in Gaza following an Israeli withdrawal could lead to chaos and anarchy in the coastal strip on its border.

Source: China Daily

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