Sharon will not recognize new council for Palestinian authority

Sources at the office of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that Sharon will not recognize any new council in the Palestinian authority unless its establishment will be preceded by what he called genuine and fundamental reforms in security and fighting what he had called terrorism.

The Israeli radio said that these sources indicated that Sharon refuses also any new council for the Palestinian authority headed or run by Yasser Arafat, and Israel will not permit the convening of the second session of the Palestinian legislative council in Ramullah with the aim of approving the formation of the Palestinian authority new council.

However, sources at the Israeli foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres told members of the Palestinian Authority council with he had met recently that Israel will positively answer the Palestinian request on permitting the convening of the second session of the Palestinian legislative council due be held in September in Ramullah.