Official PA website: PA security apparatus needs at least three months
before can ensure security in areas IDF leaves

Abu Mazen- Sharon Meeting Fails as Israel Rejects 'Road Map'
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_e/ipc_e-1/e_News/news2003/2003-05/056.html
[Official PA Website]
JERUSALEM, May 18, 2003, IPC+ Agencies -- Several Palestinians voiced
concern yesterday over the findings of Sharon-Abu Mazen meeting in Jerusalem
as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dismissed his Palestinian counterpart
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) demand to approve the US-proposed peace plan "road
map'.

The Palestinian side headed by Abu Mazen intended to know where Israel
stands from the 'road map' peace plan on which the Palestinain cabinet
agreed with some sort of reservations.

The Israeli side focused exclusively during the meeting on security issues.

Press sources said that the Israeli delegation asked their Palestinian
counterpart to ensure security along the northern Gaza-Israel borders within
one month in return for an Israeli gradual withdrawal from the area.

The Palestinain party refused such an Israeli demand due to technical and
administrative problems within the Palestinain security apparatus resulting
from the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Palestinians claimed that such problems could be solved within at least
three months.

As for the Palestinian Prime Minister, Abu Mazen, he demanded his
counterpart Ariel Sharon to declare consent for the road map ahead of the
latter's visit to Washington to meet President George W. Bush.

Noteworthy, the road map is the President Bush's vision towards peace
between the Palestinians and the Israelis, which would end the ongoing
conflict based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by
the year 2005.

Israeli sources said Prime Minister Sharon is likely to discuss with
President Bush a number of Israeli amendments of the road map before Israel
approves it.

Abu Mazen-Sharon meeting comes shortly after a Palestinain cabinet meeting
in Gaza and as the Israeli occupation forces continue to occupy the northern
Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun.