israelinsider: diplomacy: Sharon to tell Bush: "If Iraq attacks us, we will respond"

Sharon to tell Bush: "If Iraq attacks us, we will respond"
By Ellis Shuman November 29, 2001


		11/29 Spat with Peres clouds Sharon's US trip Jerusalem Post



			Ariel Sharon


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President George W. Bush with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a previous meeting


	Security officials warn of unconventional Iraqi attack

	Israel urges listing Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah as terror groups

	Israelis debate likelihood of missile attacks from Iraq, Lebanon

	Sharon-Bush meeting highlights leaders’ conflicting positions

	Sharon stresses Israeli defense concerns

	Mr. Sharon goes to Washington


	Prime Minister's Office

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon leaves tonight for a five-day visit to the United States where he will reportedly tell President George W. Bush that should Saddam Hussein attack Israel after an American strike on Iraq, Israel would respond.

The subject of Iraq and America's plans in its campaign against terror after Afghanistan will be high on the agenda in Sharon's upcoming talks with Bush, Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Sharon will also hold a videoconference with Vice President Dick Cheney but will not meet him personally due to Cheney's absence from Washington because of security considerations, Yediot Aharonot reported.

Sharon will reportedly make clear to the Bush administration that, unlike the 1991 Gulf War when Israel deferred to American pressure not to break up the international coalition lined up against Saddam, Israel would now take action to defend itself if Iraq launches missiles or sends suicide planes at Israel. Sharon will call on the Americans to provide Israel with a few days' advanced warning of a planned strike at Iraq, a demand reportedly also raised by Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer when he met with U.S. negotiator Gen. Anthony Zinni this week.

Sharon said today that he would not advise Bush whether or not to attack Iraq, "even if there is a fear that [an American strike] would result in Iraq's attacking Israel."

According to Maariv, Sharon will provide Bush with intelligence reports indicating a direct connection between the Palestinian Authority and the Hizbullah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. "There is no such thing as good terror," the Prime Minister will reportedly tell Bush. Sharon will call on Bush to include the terror organizations fighting Israel on the list of potential targets for U.S. military action, Ha'aretz added.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has yet to make a "strategic decision" to fight terror, Sharon will reportedly tell the Americans. This message is also being made clear to Zinni in his meetings with Israeli security officials today, including Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon.

According to media reports, Zinni is considering taking a short pause in his fact-finding mission until Sharon returns from Washington next week. After meeting with Arafat and Palestinian officials yesterday, Zinni may return to the United States to report to Bush of his impressions before the President meets with Sharon. Serious cease-fire negotiations would only begin upon Zinni's return to Israel, after Sharon's trip.