"Sharon announced that the state of Israel is ready to accept the measures spelled out in the roadmap," his office said

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, May 23 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Although U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell ruled out Friday, May 23, intention to make any changes to the roadmap, Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon will submit the plan to his cabinet for approval.

Sharon’s decision was prompted by the release of a U.S. statement recognizing Israel's concerns to the internationally-backed plan, his office said.

"Sharon announced that the state of Israel is ready to accept the measures spelled out in the roadmap and the matter will be submitted to the government for its approval," it said in a statement.

The text did not say when the cabinet would convene, but its weekly meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 25.

The path was cleared for Sharon's announcement barely an hour before in a statement released in Washington by Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice recognizing Israel's concerns and vowing to address them when the roadmap was implemented.

Sharon leaned heavily on the U.S. statement in explaining his decision which is certain to enflame his right-wing grassroot supporters, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The decision "was taken in light of the American statement published today concerning Israel's comments on the roadmap," his office said.

The U.S. statement acknowledges the Israeli concerns "are the expression of real fears", reiterated Washington's pledge "to fully and seriously take into account its (Israel's) remarks during the implementation of the roadmap."

A senior Israeli official told AFP earlier on condition of anonymity that without an American letter of guarantee it would be impossible for Sharon to bring his cabinet and the public on board.

The American statement opened the way for the roadmap's endorsement by the Israeli cabinet, political sources were quoted as saying by Yediot Aharanot newspaper's website.

"The U.S. declaration conforms to the understanding reached between the two countries and opens the path to the presentation of the plan before the (Israeli) government, where it should be endorsed by a majority," the source said.

Sharon's cabinet chief, Dov Weisglass, met with Rice earlier this week about Israel's objections to the plan, including its refusals to freeze Jewish settlements and to pullback troops to their positions before the outbreak of the 32-month Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Sharon has insisted his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmud Abbas, crack down on resistance groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad before Israel starts to fulfill its part of the three-phase plan drafted by Washington, Moscow, the United Nations and the European Union.

U.S. administration officials said Thursday, May 22, that Bush was weighing a possible summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with Sharon and Abbas, although no date has been confirmed.

No Changes

"We have told the Israeli government that we would take their comments into consideration... but this does not require us to change the roadmap," Powell said

After meeting with G8 counterparts, Powell stressed Washington was not planning to make any changes to the peace plan.

"With respect to the roadmap, we are not planning on making any changes," he told a joint press conference in the French capital.

"We have told the Israeli government that we would take their comments into consideration... but this does not require us to change the roadmap," Powell argued.

With the American statement on the Israeli concerns at the backdrop, Powell insisted the plan did not require any changes.

The U.S. secretary of state voiced, however, concerns about Palestinian resident Yasser Arafat, claiming he was no longer an effective interlocutor.

"We don't believe that he has lived up to the expectations of the Israeli people," Powell said.

"We will be investing our time and energy with (Palestinian) prime minister (Mahmud) Abbas."

Arafat

The statement seemed to belittle French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin's plans to meet Arafat on Monday, May 26, in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

But the French minister strongly defended his decision, saying it was both French and European policy on the Middle East to "meet and speak to everyone".

"We need to take steps against terrorism, against any violence -- it is the right moment to move," de Villepin told reporters.

"Believe me, my message will be a strong message," he added.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath told reporters in Paris that he had been informed of the planned trip at a meeting with de Villepin earlier in the day.

"It is important for us to keep the French leadership fully informed," he said.

Asked what the Palestinians intended to tell Powell, who is due to arrive in the region on Saturday, Shaath said: "The boycott on Mr. Arafat must be lifted in the interests of peace.

"Any boycott of Arafat should be stopped in the interest of peace. (He) is the elected leader of the Palestinian people," the minister said.

"He (Arafat) has made the decision that it is vital that somebody meets with Powell. He did not want to lose this opportunity," Shaath insisted.

Powell was expected to hold talks with Sharon and Abbas to kickstart the roadmap.