OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 22 November 2003 — Ahead of a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, an upbeat Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has said a peace deal is possible within six months. “I am ready to talk with Sharon to conclude an agreement if it is possible,” Qorei said in an interview with Norwegian public television.
“If we want to, we are ready. We can do it in a very short time. We can do it once and forever. I think in six months we can close the deal and put an end to the conflict,” Qorei said.
According to Israeli officials, Qorei and Sharon are due to meet next week for the first time since the new Palestinian government was sworn in on Nov. 12.
The Palestinian premier has vowed to make a truce his priority and is seeking guarantees from Israel in a bid to convince Palestinian factions to end their attacks.
Sharon said Thursday night that he was considering a parallel track of “positive unilateral steps” to alleviate the pressure on the Palestinian population.
