Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas said they would like to resume talks. In exclusive interviews in the latest issue of Newsweek, both men called Yasser Arafat’s death an opportunity for peace. “When they would like to meet, we will meet,” Sharon said, referring to the Palestinian leadership that is to be elected on Jan. 9. Abbas, the dominant Fatah faction’s nominee to succeed Arafat, praised Sharon for his political strength and voiced hope that the Israeli plan to quit the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank next year would be coordinated with the Palestinians. “After the election, I’m ready to meet at any time with Sharon,” Abbas said. Despite having recently reaffirmed Arafat’s long-standing demand on a “right of return” for Palestinian refugees, Abbas said this was in line with the U.S.-led “road map” peace plan that Israel accepted.
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