Israelis and Palestinians hold peace talks

Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s son and Yasser Arafat’s security adviser, were meeting in London today at the start of a two-day conference on implementation of a US-backed peace plan.

Israeli Labour Party lawmaker Ephraim Sneh said the sides were invited by the British Government to present their positions and discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He described the talks as “not academic” but also not official peace negotiations.

“The government in London and friends of Israel…arranged for a meeting…in which the top echelons of the British Government in the defence and political arenas would be able to learn first hand on the situation between us and the Palestinians and what can be done,” Mr Sneh told Israel Radio in an interview from London.

The talks will focus on renewing long-stalled peace talks and implementation of the internationally backed “road map” which envisions the formation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

Likud party legislator Omri Sharon, the Israeli prime minister’s son who has met Yasser Arafat at his father’s behest in the past, is part of the Israeli delegation, Mr Sneh confirmed. Israel Radio reported that Omri Sharon was seen laughing and joking with members of the Palestinian delegation in the VIP lounge of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport before the group flew to London.

Mr Sneh said Omri Sharon was not necessarily participating in his father’s name. “Omri Sharon is also a Knesset member in his own right, not just the son of,” he said.

Mr Arafat’s National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub is a member of the Palestinian delegation. Palestinian lawmaker Ziad Abu Zayyad will also participate in the talks.

“Those who are participating, on both sides...represent in the most professional manner the positions of the sides also on the official-sovereign level and also on the political level,” Mr Sneh said.