''Oh, the quartet is nothing! Don’t take it seriously! There is [another] plan that will work,'' Sharon

WASHINGTON, January 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Insisting on his hard-line policy against the Palestinians and allegedly preparing a brand new plan to deal with them, hawkish Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon told a U.S. weekly magazine that the quartet is nothing, adding there was “another plan” that will work.

Sharon was interviewed Saturday by the weekly Newsweek, ahead of Israeli upcoming elections and amid allegations of corruptions against the former general and his two sons.

Questioned about his view on the peace plan of the so-called quartet: the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia, he said ''Oh, the quartet is nothing! Don’t take it seriously! There is [another] plan that will work.''

Sharon (allegedly) has prepared a plan, consisting of several phases, he claims will bear fruit. ''First, Arafat should be removed from an influential position,'' he told the Newsweek reporter, ''Secondly, a prime minister should be appointed. Third, reforms should be undertaken, mostly in the security organizations.''

''Then, there are problems on the financial side. I think our estimate of Arafat’s property is about $2 billion. Once the reforms have been completed, there should be free and democratic elections.''

On the measures that will be taken by Israel, he said ''I am ready, if they have taken steps against terror, to recognize a fully demilitarized Palestinian state without final borders - having only police equipped with light weapons.''

''Israel will control the external borders and will have the right to fly over the territory. Now we come to phase three: if there’s no terror whatsoever, then we will have to decide about the final borders.''    

Sharon apparently ignored the basic reason behind the Palestinians legitimate struggle, or he termed “terror”; that is the Israeli occupation that keeps bombing and killing the Palestinians, demolishing their homes and turning their cities and towns into the world largest ever prison.

''The basis for the relationship is credibility. 'Yes' is yes and 'no' is no,'' Sharon said describing his relationship with President Bush.       

Regarding his allegations that Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction in Syria, Sharon was quoted by the Newsweek as saying, ''I said that we have information that chemical and biological weapons were sent to Syria by Iraq. We don’t know if those weapons stayed in Syria or were sent elsewhere.''

Bribe Scandal Is Nonsense: Sharon      

When provoked by the Newsweek reporter about the cloud that is hanging over his Likud Party, Sharon was quick to say, ''Now you take me back to this nonsense. I will not hesitate to take the hardest steps against anyone accused of using illegal means to get elected.

''You started talking about my son. My son Gilad, 36 years old, the father of three, was never interrogated by the police. That is the dirtiest piece of political maneuvering you can find.''       

Sharon’s fall in the polls has halted in recent days, and he’s climbed back some. That is partly because Amram Mitzna, the dovish former general who leads the opposition Labor Party, has failed to convince voters that he can make them any safer than they are now.

Replying to a question about those who claim that Sharon's son borrowed large sums of money illegally, and that illegal campaign contributions were sent to him from the U.S., he categorically denied such allegations saying, ''That is purely a political issue - an attempt to change the government using lies.''

If somebody wants to conduct an inquiry, I’m ready to give every answer. But I am busy conducting a war against terror, preparing this country for a war with Iraq, and talking about plans for the day after [the downfall of Saddam’s regime]. I don’t have time for these things.''

''The United States will take all necessary steps to prevent an attack on Israel. Everyone understands that if Israel is attacked, Israel will react,'' Sharon told Newsweek.              

Sharon also said that Israel has been given the green light in case of any attack from Iraq and that President Bush emphasized that if Israel is attacked before the American attack starts, Israel can do everything it needs to defend itself. But once the Americans are in action, everyone understands the sensitivity of the situation.       

About the wall to be build by Israel to separate Israel from the Palestinian territories, Sharon was quoted by the Newsweek as saying, ''These electronic fences are another means to help fight terror, but not more than that.''
       
''We will build the wall, but don’t expect it to answer the problem.''