JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israeli leaders want to remain in the country amid
escalating violence in the Middle East.Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
have postponed their trips to the United States scheduled over the next 10
days. Sharon was meant to meet President George Bush and British Prime
Minister Tony Blair this week.Sharon had been hesitant to arrive in Washington amid U.S. pressure for
an Israeli plan to renew negotiations with the Palestinians. The prime
minister also wants to hear the speech to the United Nations next week by
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell before he leaves for the United States.Israeli sources said Sharon is still expected to visit Washington later
this month. Ben-Eliezer has also informed the Bush administration of the
postponement of his visit. The defense minister was expected to discuss
strategic relations and military cooperation with the United States.Instead, Ben-Eliezer is expected to fly to Cairo and meet Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak. On Sunday, several Arab foreign ministers,
including those of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, meet in Damascus to
discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Powell could also meet Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi during the
UN General Assembly session over the weekend. Kharazi arrives in New York
when the General Assembly begins its annual session on Nov. 10.For his part, Kharazzi said no direct meeting is planned with Powell.
The two men are expected to meet as part of an eight-nation session on
Afghanistan comprised of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, the United States and Uzbekistan.
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