Palestinians cool to apparent softening by Sharon
Israeli PM backs off crackdown demand
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon apparently has softened his stance that Palestinians must crack down on militants before he will restart peace talks, but Palestinian leaders on Friday said Sharon should go further and drop all conditions.
In remarks to Likud Party activists Thursday, Sharon appeared to back off his previous demand for an immediate crackdown on militant organizations, saying he did not expect the new Palestinian leadership to immediately disarm and dismantle the groups.
Instead, Sharon said the leadership -- which is running the Palestinian government in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death -- can show its "true face" by halting incitement to violence against Israel through what he called "venomous propaganda."
But chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said: "The Israelis would do better to attach no conditions and come back to the bargaining table."
Mahmoud Abbas, the new leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, told reporters that Israel should put its own house in order, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported.
"Maybe we have issues of this kind, but they (the Israelis) have them to a greater extent," Abbas said. He said the two sides could discuss the "incitement" issue if negotiations resume.
In the past, Sharon has flatly stated that the Palestinian Authority must stop terrorism -- which would require cracking down on militant groups in the West Bank and Gaza -- before negotiations could resume.
Palestinian leaders have refused to crack down against groups carrying out terrorist attacks against Israel.
In his remarks, which were released by his office on Friday, Sharon said: "We cannot give in on the demand to collect weapons and dismantle the terrorist organizations, but it is clear that this is a more complex process."
Instead, he said, the Palestinian leadership should act against incitement, which he characterized as more dangerous to Israel than Palestinian weapons.
"There are two demands that are under the direct control of the new leadership, and it must be seen to that they are implemented immediately," Sharon said.
"Any appeal by the new leadership will be seen and tested in light of the implementation or non-implementation of two main issues, which could be carried out easily and immediately."
Those issues, he said, are: "The halt to the venomous propaganda and continuing incitement in the Palestinian media ... (and) a change and turnaround in the Palestinian education system, a halt to the incitement against -- and demonization of -- Israel, Israelis and Jews."
Sharon said: "Replacing inflammatory textbooks, banning the holding of lessons, presentations, summer camps, etc., that incite against Israel -- the venomous propaganda in the Palestinian media and education system are the root and foundation of the growing phenomenon of suicide terrorism.
"Palestinian education and propaganda are more dangerous to Israel than Palestinian weapons. These two important missions, even before the full implementation of the first stage of the road map, will be an important test of the true direction of the Palestinian leadership. Upon what are they bent -- a future peace or war and terrorism?
"I brought this example in order to show that I don't intend to waste time; I plan to find any way -- when the new Palestinian leadership is ready to open contacts -- in order to start advancing our relations with the Palestinians.
"I hope that the future will lead to quiet, security and a diplomatic settlement."
The Palestinian Authority plans to hold elections in January, but diplomatic initiatives in the region will pick up when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell travels to Israel and the Palestinian territories Sunday and Monday.
Powell, who has announced his resignation, plans to talk with Israeli officials and the new Palestinian leadership on how to advance the Palestinian elections.
Ha'aretz reported Friday that U.S. President George W. Bush told Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom Thursday that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would top his new administration's agenda.
The two spoke during ceremonies opening the library of former President Bill Clinton in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In addition, outgoing national security adviser Condoleezza Rice told Shalom that her first trip in her new job as secretary of state will be to travel to the Middle East because she sees a real chance for progress in the region.
