Sharon lashes out at rival Netanyahu for rebuffing US plan

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his new foreign minister and fierce rival had their first dispute within hours of Binyamin Netanyahu's appointment.

Mr Sharon took the man who wants his job to task for rebuffing American peace efforts on the eve of a visit by a senior US emissary, Israeli media reported yesterday.

Aides said only that the two met last night to resolve their differences on policy and the timing of Likud Party primary elections.

The Yediot Ahronot newspaper and radio stations said Mr Sharon complained about Mr Netanyahu's dismissal of a US-backed plan to give Palestinians full independence by 2005.

Cabinet Minister Tzahi Hanegbi confirmed that Mr Netanyahu had described the so-called road map for Mideast peace as "irrelevant" pending expected Us military action in Iraq.

"The statement by Mr Netanyahu that the issue is not relevant is not surprising," Hanegbi told Israel Radio.

"First the expected drama in Iraq has to come to a conclusion. Above all there must be a Palestinian partner. There needs to be substantial reform to the Palestinian Authority."

Mr Sharon himself has expressed grave reservations about the road map, but has been more diplomatic than Mr Netanyahu, saying Israel would study the plan carefully and present its response at the appropriate time.

Mr Netanyahu, who will battle Sharon for the Likud leadership in primaries to be held within the next few weeks, was formally sworn in as foreign minister yesterday.

He took up the portfolio made vacant by a walkout of ministers from the dovish Labour party in a row over funding of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said yesterday that he has committed himself in advance to accept the US plan, which is expected to be hammered into a final draft next month after Israel, the Palestinians and Arab states make their reservations known.

"There is a clear understanding between us and the quartet that we have to implement it directly after it will be offered to us officially by the quartet," Mr Arafat said at his West Bank headquarters.