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Sharon backs Bush plan for Palestinian state
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon laid out his vision for the Mideast peace process, saying Wednesday he agrees with the Bush administration's plan for a provisional Palestinian state. Under President Bush's plan, a provisional Palestinian state would be formed by the end of 2003, once the Palestinian Authority has completed extensive reforms and held new elections. Bush also wants a final status agreement by the end of 2005. But Sharon insists Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat should not be a part of the process, the terrorist acts must stop and that the Palestinian government must complete extensive reforms before the process moves forward. "Israel is prepared to make painful concessions for a true peace. However, the government under my leadership will not be seduced into believing false promises which will endanger the security of the state of Israel," Sharon said in a speech to a conference on Israeli security. "I cannot deny that I have doubts, reservations and fears. However, I have come to the conclusion that in the present regional and international reality, Israel must act with courage to accept the political plan which I described." Addressing those "who will attack" his political outline, Sharon said recent years have shown there are no "lightning-quick solutions" in the Mideast and that proposals drawn up in 2000 by Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Bill Clinton did not work. "These methods have failed -- the solution to the conflict must be gradual and controlled. We must, in all stages, act with prudence and determination, exercise judgment, and make very sure that all commitments and agreements are implemented by both sides," Sharon said. "It is important to remember that political concessions which will be made in the future -- as those made in the past -- are irreversible." In coming weeks, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will host fellow ministers of the Mideast Quartet, which includes Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. That meeting, on December 20, hopes to produce a final version of the plan and an agreement from all parties involved. Bush announced the roadmap in a speech last June in which he called for Palestinians to "elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror." He also called on the new leaders to adopt a new constitution and undergo economic, judicial and educational reform. (Text of speech) Once that happens, Bush said, the nearly 35-year Israeli occupation of the West Bank can end and a new state with provisional borders can be created. Final borders and where the new state's capital would be located will be part of negotiations for a final settlement, to completed within three years. "The peace plan outlined in the president's speech is a reasonable, pragmatic and practicable one, which offers a real opportunity to achieve an agreement," Sharon said. "It is clear to all that Israel can no longer be expected to make political concessions until there is proven calm and Palestinian government reforms." When the necessary reforms are made, Sharon said his government would move to implement Bush's second phase, the "establishment of a Palestinian state with borders yet to be finalized." "This Palestinian state will be completely demilitarized," Sharon said. "Israel will continue to control all entries and exits to the Palestinian state, will command its airspace and not allow it to form alliances with Israel's enemies." His government would then enter talks with Palestinians on the final status of the Palestinian state and "fix its permanent borders." Sharon, who is expected to win re-election next month, said he would present Bush's plan to the national unity government and work to get it approved there. "It is true that this is not a shining path which will lead us to instant, magical solutions, but I am certain that only by going forward in this direction -- step by step -- will we be able to achieve security for the Israeli people, and reach the peace we all yearn for," Sharon said.
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