Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ended any speculation that Israel would participate in British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Mideast peace conference.
Speaking during a meeting with visiting Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda on Monday, Sharon said that his understanding is that the conference focuses on economic issues and reforms in the Palestinian Authority. “Regarding issues of security,” he said, “discussions will be only with Israel.”
He ruled out any form of multinational conference that touches on the issue of security.
Sharon’s reading of the intent of the confab was backed up by Blair’s office. A spokesman said that the scope of the planned meeting “is about Palestine and practical reforms within Palestine,” and that, “This has never been conceived of as a major peace conference.”
Blair himself is expected to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah this week.
There are reports that the British PM has infuriated Palestinians by ruling out a formal visit to Yassir Arafat’s grave.