France: Sharon's policy doesn't solve anything

After mounting and wide ranging criticism from Israelis and outsiders against Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon policies' against the Palestinians, Sharon reiterated yesterday his idea to create "buffer zones" to protect the Israelis.

Sharon asked the Israelis to continue support for his policies, a policy that he was elected on and is now being increasing viewed as a total failure.

Hubert Vedrine, France's minister of foreign affairs said today Ariel Sharon's decision to create buffer zones "reflects the realization that the policy conducted for the past year is not bringing security; it's an expedient, it doesn't solve anything."

The US state department cautioned yesterday about any "escalations" in the current situation.

Asked if this move by Sharon is one more move towards escalation, France's Foreign Minister Vedrine said "So long as we are in the war, yes, it's escalation. In any case, it's no more capable of resolving the problem than everything that's been done before. So there has to be a change of tack."