Sharon defends West Bank blockade

Ariel Sharon appears on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer"

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has defended the tightening of the blockade around the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The new leader said the move had been in response to reports that Palestinians were allegedly stepping up their plans for further attacks against Israelis.

His office said, in a statement: "In light of specific information on an attack from within the city of Ramallah, the closure has been intensified and operational activity has been intensified in order to thwart the attack.

"The policy of Prime Minister Sharon is to make things easier...but it will act in those places where terrorist activity is carried out, all this as part of a policy to thwart attacks and fight against terrorists and those who send them."

The statement, released before talks between European Union representatives and Palestinian National Authority leader Yasser Arafat, gave no details of the attack.

VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel says Palestinians view Israeli prime minister as blocking peace effort Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney reports on Arafat's call for new peace talks during his address to Palestinian parliament Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  • Bombings  • Activist deaths    RESOURCES Profiles of members of the new Israeli government Composition of the Israeli parliament

Sharon's stance was a repeat of one taken on CNN's Late Edition on the weekend, in which Sharon said he would not negotiate with the Palestinians as long as there was violence.

But during the interview he offered sympathy to the plight of Palestinians, and spoke of a willingness to "ease conditions" of those living in the West Bank -- but only once the violence had stopped.

"There is a famous saying, 'It's hard to be a Jew,'" he said.

'Hard to be a Palestinian'

"It's also hard to be a Palestinian. I know that. I would like to take all those steps, but first of all it should be quiet.

Sharon said he sent a message to Arafat, telling him that he would "like very much to ease the conditions" of Palestinians.

Sharon said it was a "major mistake" of Ehud Barak, his predecessor, to negotiate with the Palestinians while violent clashes were erupting between Israelis and Palestinians. He said Barak made too many concessions and Israel became "weaker and weaker."

"I think that Arafat has not reached yet the point that he understands that he's facing now a different government," the 73-year-old ex-general said.

The blockades on the West Bank and Gaza, which hampers Palestinian movement, have been criticised by the international community for creating an economic stranglehold.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a representative of Arafat's Fatah movement in the West Bank, told Army Radio the blockades would not douse the uprising.

"Do they think this blockade will lead the people to raise the white flag? I say this is stupidity.

"I am sure that this blockade pushes people into a more serious situation and act more strongly in the Intifida."

Fresh violence broke out overnight between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen in Gaza and near the West Bank city of Nablus.

The Israeli army said 12 exchanges of fire had occurred in Gaza on Sunday night, but no injuries were reported.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk said Washington had underlined to Arafat the need "to take steps to curb the incitement, curb the violence."

He told an economic conference in Tel Aviv last Sunday that the moment Arafat started tackling the violence, Israel must ease "the economic pressure of the closure."

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian National Authority
Israeli Prime Minister's Office

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