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Sharon offer to withdraw forces from Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM May 17. The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, convened his Cabinet on Saturday to resolve internal squabbles ahead of his summit with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, later in the day.

It will be the highest-level Israeli-Palestinian meeting since violence erupted in September 2000. A key issue on the agenda is the U.S.-backed ``road map,'' a three-stage peace plan that spells out steps toward ending violence and establishing a Palestinian state.

The Palestinians have accepted the plan as is, while Mr. Sharon has listed 15 objections. Mr. Abbas will ask Mr. Sharon to accept the plan. ``In this meeting we are seeking a clear Israeli answer concerning the road map and we will not accept any reservation, not 13 — not even one,'' said the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath.

However, Mr. Sharon is not expected to comply, waiting instead to discuss his reservations with the U.S. President, George W. Bush, in a White House meeting next week.

Israel Radio reported that Mr. Sharon would offer the Palestinians to withdraw troops from the northern end of the Gaza Strip, as a security experiment. Palestinian security forces would take control in that area, and be expected to prevent rocket fire on Israeli border communities.

If the test succeeds, Israel would withdraw from additional territory, the report said.

The Palestinians demand that Israel lift a travel ban on Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. — AP

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