Israelis and Palestinians gear up for crunch talks

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met key advisers today as he geared up for crucial talks tomorrow evening with his Palestinian counterpart, the first meeting at that level between the two sides in 31 months.

Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas will put pressure on Sharon to accept the so-called “road map” to peace, which aims to stop the fighting and establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Saeb Erekat, a top Palestinian negotiator who was sidelined by Abbas’ appointment as premier, submitted his resignation.

Erekat, whose international profile was second only to Yasser Arafat had not been invited to join tomorrow’s talks, officials said.

Abbas will be accompanied at the summit by Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia and security chief Mohammed Dahlan.

“We will ask for a clear and frank answer regarding the road map,” said Qureia. But he added that he was not optimistic about Sharon’s response.

Israel has been sending out tough signals, and Sharon is expected to take a list of grievances about the wording of the plan when he visits US President George Bush in Washington next week.

The road map was written by the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union.

Israel has also kept up the pressure on the ground, going after suspected Islamic militants in the West Bank and Gaza. Five Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed yesterday during an army raid in Gaza.

“There can be no talk about the road map or peace process while this aggression and ugly attacks against the Palestinian people continue,” Qureia said.

In Jerusalem’s Old City today, hundreds of Israeli police were keeping order during weekly Muslim prayers. Palestinian men under the age of 40 were barred from the Al Aqsa Mosque amid fears they would gather to protest against the arrests this week of the leader of Israel’s Islamic Movement and 14 of the group’s members.

Police believe the movement gave funds to the radical Palestinian group Hamas to help support the families of its suicide bombers.

Israel’s police minister also angered Muslims this week by saying he believed Jews would soon be able to visit the disputed holy site.

Non-Muslims have been barred from the mosque compound since a September 28, 2000 visit by Sharon, then Israel’s opposition leader.

That visit, meant to demonstrate Israeli control, triggered widespread protests by Palestinians and quickly escalated into the current conflict.