Sharon ready to visit Ramullah, intends to withdraw from West Bank cities
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/10/2005

Amid atmospheres of caution in the region waiting for the results of Sharm al-Sheikh summit on the ground, sources close to the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that he is ready to meet with the chairman of the Palestinian authority Mahmoud Abbas in Ramullah in the West Bank.

The source explained that Sharon notified Abbas about this desire during their meeting in Sharm al-Sheikh on Tuesday. Sharon's office announced on Tuesday that he had invited Abbas to a meeting in his farm in Israel. Palestinian officials confirmed Abbas's acceptance of the invitation saying that more talks might be held in the West Bank.

For his part, President Abbas stressed that the dialogue will be resumed next week with the Israelis in order to discuss issues which have not been debated yet. He indicated that the joint committee will start as from Wednesday discussing the issue of prisoners and work will continue for five days.

Hussein Abu Lubda, the director of the office of the Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qurei stressed that the Israeli occupation forces will start withdrawal from five cities in the West Bank during the three coming weeks.

Meantime, the Israeli ministry of defense announced permitting some 1,000 Palestinian workers to enter Israel to work within the few coming days. News reports said that Mofaz also permitted hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to work in the industrial zone in Erez. Facilities will be also provided for passage to Israel for hundreds of traders from Gaza.

Mofaz will also permit some 400 employees in international humanitarian organizations to move freely between the West Bank and Gaza day and night.

Previous Stories:
  Shaath: Sharm al-Sheikh summit start of implementing Roadmap   (2/9/2005)
  Sharon renews conditions   (2/9/2005)
  Abbas, Sharon announce truce   (2/9/2005)

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