Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accused the Palestinian premier of heading a "government of murder and lies" that is incapable of negotiating a peace deal with Israel, according to an interview published yesterday.
The harsh criticism appeared to set the stage for Sharon to push forward with his plan to dismantle some settlements and impose a boundary on the Palestinians if peace efforts prove fruitless in the coming months.
Sharon's comments came in response to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia's condemnation of a suicide bombing of an Israeli bus Sunday that killed eight passengers. Qureia criticized the bombing, "especially its timing and place," saying it hurt efforts to persuade the world court at The Hague to rule against the separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.
Israel says the barrier is needed to keep out bombers.
The Palestinians "expressed regret about the timing of the attack because it could hurt them at The Hague," Sharon was quoting as telling the Yediot Ahronot daily. "The government of Abu Ala is a government of murder and lies. With such a government it is impossible to reach any agreement."
Sharon's comments come amid stalled efforts to restart the US-backed "road map" peace plan that calls for an immediate end to the more than three years of violence and the creation of a Palestinian state by next year.
Attempts to set up an initial summit between Sharon and Qureia, who took office in November, have dead-ended, with Israel on Monday canceling a planned preparatory meeting between the two leaders' top aides.
Qureia says he will only agree to a summit if he is assured results, such as an easing of restrictions on Palestinians. Israel says a summit must focus on what Palestinians will do to stop attacks and dismantle militant groups.
Israel says that the Palestinians' unwillingness to dismantle militant groups, as called for in the road map, forced it to build the barrier. Both sides have failed to fulfill their obligations under the peace plan.
Meanwhile, Israel faced fresh condemnation at the World Court yesterday from countries backing the Palestinians in their case against the West Bank fence.
The court in The Hague opened three days of hearings on Monday into the legality of the fence.
Israel has stayed away from the hearings, disputing the right of the International Court of Justice to pronounce on what it sees as a political case.
The US and EU shunned the hearings despite criticizing the barrier's route. They say the court's involvement could harm Middle East peacemaking efforts.
The court's ruling will not be binding, but it could influence world opinion and the Palestinians hope it could pave the way for international sanctions against Israel.
Among the states set to testify yesterday was Jordan, leading Arab opposition to the barrier despite its peace treaty with Israel. Jordan fears a destabilizing influx of Palestinians from the West Bank if the situation there worsens.
Also due to speak were Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim country, as well as Bangladesh, Malaysia and Cuba.
"The wall is indefensible as a matter of law," Saudi Arabia's UN Ambassador, Fawzi Shobokshi, testified on Monday.
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