Sharon says ready to negotiate with new Palestinian leader

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that he was prepared to start negotiations with a new responsible Palestinian leader after Arafat's departure, the Ha'aretz daily reported.

If a new Palestinian leadership emerged and it would put forth genuine efforts to dismantle "terror infrastructures", Israel would be willing to renew negotiations based on the roadmap peace plan,Sharon told his cabinet in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Sharon insisted that Israel would continue moving forward with the disengagement plan despite Arafat's deteriorating health conditions and the possibility that he could die soon.

    "As long as there will be no partner, we will push forward with the disengagement plan that was approved by the government and the Knesset (parliament)," Sharon said.

Sharon also reiterated Israel's commitment to allowing Arafat to return to the Palestinian territories after his recovery.

    Sharon told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier that he would not change or delay disengagement from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank because of Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's illness.

However, Israel would consider coordinating its withdrawal with the Palestinians if a new and moderate leadership took the reins of power, political sources in Jerusalem said.

Arafat's health conditions have worsened recently and was flown to Paris for further treatment on early Oct. 29.

Analysts here said Arafat's departure from the scene "creates a new situation," and Israel was believed to weigh "how and with whom to coordinate" the implementation of the disengagement plan.

Source: Xinhua