The Hindu : Israel ready for `painful compromises', says Sharon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 11, 2003

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Israel ready for `painful compromises', says Sharon

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI SEPT. 10. Israel had been facing "terror" in the last 120 years; it had not started "now", the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said here today. He was addressing a business meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Mr. Sharon, who cancelled the Mumbai leg of his visit, said that Israel was a "peace-seeking" country, which was willing to make "painful compromises" for genuine, real peace with its neighbours. Israel, he said, would never compromise on the security of its citizens.

In a related development, the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Yosef Lapid, told The Hindu that the United States had agreed to an Israeli proposal to sell three Phalcon early warning radars to India, which the Americans had refused to sell to China.

"Now, you are interested in our Arrow anti-missile system. If the Americans agree, India will be the first country to whom we may sell this," Mr. Lapid said. Will Israel put pressure on the U.S. on behalf of India? "We will try to convince them. Of course, they (the Americans) have a veto right because they have contributed both to the financing and technology of the project." The Arrow was part of a major defence system which India "may need", he added.

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, telephoned Mr. Sharon this morning and expressed his condolences at yesterday's terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv. India condemned terrorism in all its forms, Mr. Vajpayee said adding "violence will not solve the problems confronting West Asia." He said he was "sorry" that Mr. Sharon had to return home in these circumstances and "our hearts" went out to the families of the victims.

He informed Mr. Sharon that though the visit was short, it would contribute to friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and that he looked forward to growing interaction between the two countries in the coming months and years. Mr. Sharon invited Mr. Vajpayee to visit Israel and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure. Mr. Sharon also met the Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, and the Finance and Defence Ministers, Jaswant Singh and George Fernandes.

In his speech at the business function, the Israeli leader said he was "happy" to hear from Mr. Vajpayee that he, too, attached great importance to promoting the values of freedom and democracy around the world.

The Indian leader had told him that terrorism was a serious threat that required a determined and "uncompromising battle". Terror, he said, was the enemy of freedom and democracy. Only a relentless battle against terrorism could ensure peace and prosperity.

"It is my intention to make every effort to reach an agreement which will ensure security and stability and will hopefully lead to peace in our region in the near future. It depends on the course of events and the situation in the region. One cannot move forward with the political process unless there was a full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement," he stressed.

Mr. Sharon said that his "short" visit to India had become "shorter" due to the latest terrorist strikes in Israel. According to him, the first visit to India by an Israeli Prime Minister was the "climax" of relations between the two countries. It was his hope that "following this visit" India and Israel would continue to develop their relations. He also echoed Mr. Vajpayee's remarks that the two countries were ancient civilisations and both had attained independence at the same time.

In brief remarks, Mr. Jaswant Singh said that he wanted to welcome Mr. Sharon as "one soldier to another" and as "one politician to another". He also offered condolences to the people of Israel for the heinous acts of terror. "There is no compromise possible with terrorism". There are no extenuating circumstances to explain terrorist acts away, Mr. Singh added.

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