Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday that he would consider
coordinating the pullout from the Gaza Strip with the new Palestinian leadership
if the latter curbs attacks against Israel.
"If there is a Palestinian leadership that acts against terror,perhaps then
we can coordinate a transfer of the territory to them," Sharon said, referring
to the upcoming Palestinian leadership following the death of the late
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Despite pressure to abandon the plan in light of recent developments, Sharon
said he would continue to push through the planned pullout.
A shelving of the plan would mean that Israel would forego its agreement with
the United States in order to take a chance onreaching an agreement with the
Palestinians, Sharon said, but addedthat he stood behind the agreement.
"I believe in my agreement with the United States, with President George W.
Bush and with congress, and I don't intend to give it up," Sharon said.
