Sharon hopes for great progress in peace process

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hopes for “great progress” in the peace process with the Palestinians in the coming year.

Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas agreed in a telephone conversation yesterday to hold their first meeting since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip last month, but did not set a date. Israeli-Palestinian fighting delayed a meeting scheduled for this week.

In a newspaper interview today ahead of the Jewish New Year, which begins at sunset, Sharon said the summit would take place soon. Both sides have committed to implement the internationally backed “road map” peace plan, which outlines measures to end fighting and establish a Palestinian state.

“I hope that in the coming year there will be great progress in the diplomatic process and we will implement the course that was laid out in the road map,” Sharon said.

Sharon said he had hoped to hold the meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, but Israeli security would not yet permit such a visit.

Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza had fed hopes that peacemaking would progress. But the launchings of dozens rockets from Gaza into Israel 10 days ago and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes scuttled original plans to hold the Sharon-Abbas meeting this week.