France holds Sharon responsible for violence

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin expressed on Tuesday belief that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is adopting an unsuccessful policy that closed all doors of hope before the Palestinians and was unable to provide security to the Israelis. In statements on Tuesday, he said Sharon's government is responsible to a great extent for the current cycle of violence and retaliatory acts which caused the fall of many civilians and military men.

He said no one can control anything, especially in light of the siege imposed on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, underlining the importance of reaching a political solution.

"There must be a European -American cooperation to get both the Israelis and the Palestinians to stop the acts leading them to a dead end, "Jospin said.