Arafat: Sharon coordinated 'disengagement plan' with U.S.

[Gimel]

{Up-date on article posted a few minutes ago)

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat said Saturday that he has no doubt that the comments on unilateral disengagement, made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Herzliya Conference on Thursday, were coordinated with Washington, the Itim News Agency reported.

Speaking to reporters in Ramallah, Arafat said that in light of what he knows of the U.S. position regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he believes that prior to the speech, the "disengagement plan" was presented to United States National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, as well as other senior administration officials.

The White House on Friday said that it was "very pleased" with much of Sharon's speech, in which he offered to remove some settlements on the West Bank and make other concessions.


"We were very pleased with the overall speech," spokesman Scott McClellan said in an apparent effort to offset published accounts that focused on his admonition Thursday that Sharon should not try to impose a settlement without negotiations.

Meanwhile, citing sources close to the prime minister, Channel One reported that Sharon is willing to declare early elections in order to get a mandate for his "disengagement plan," if right-wing parties in his government resign, although he would prefer that the present government remain intact.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/373680.html

The voters may decide implementation of the "disengagement plan".