Sunday, November 28, 2004; Page B01

Weymouth: What made you decide to lead the country in a new direction and disengage from Gaza?

Sharon: I believe we have to find a solution to the situation here. The left cannot do it; the right is against it. I felt that it was my responsibility to bring an answer to the problem and that is what made me decide to take steps to solve the problem. In the past, we did not have any partners so I came up with this unilateral disengagement plan.

By doing this, you have opponents threatening not only your political career but your life.

I don't worry about my life. Arabs always wanted to act [against me] but now the Jews are doing this. So for me, it is a strange situation. As one who has defended Jews all his life, I now have to be secured against Jews. But I am fully committed to the plan.

After Yasser Arafat's death, do you think you might have a Palestinian partner with whom you could coordinate?

I have met [Palestinian leader] Abu Mazen many times and he was against terror because he did not think it would bring a solution to the Palestinians. Now it depends on whether the [new leadership] can bring an end to terror and incitement. Then there might be a window of opportunity.

Will you coordinate your disengagement plan with the new Palestinian leadership?

I am going to make every effort to coordinate our disengagement plan with the new government -- one that can assume control over areas we evacuate.

You recently asked the Palestinian Authority to end incitement. Have you moderated your demands?

There are things they can do immediately -- stopping incitement in the Palestinian broadcasting and the press. But that did not replace my demand for a cessation of terror.

What will Israel do to facilitate Palestinian elections?

We will take all the necessary steps to enable them to conduct their elections with as little interference as possible -- by opening the roads and taking our forces out of their towns.

Will you meet with Abu Mazen?

When they would like to meet, we will meet.

Do you worry about Iran getting a nuclear weapon?

Iran is making every effort to possess a nuclear weapon. The program is a major threat to Israel but also to stability in the region and the world. It seems that the steps taken by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] and the Europeans are insufficient to stop Iran's nuclear program. The only real solution is a major international effort to exert economic and diplomatic pressure, and to bring the issue to the U.N. Security Council, where sanctions can be imposed.

How big is Iran's role in instigating and financing terrorism on the West Bank and in Gaza?

Iran's major effort is on keeping up a terror campaign against Israel and sabotaging any effort to achieve a political settlement. Iran is directly involved in terrorism from Lebanon via its proxy Hezbollah. It offers financial and operational support to Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as elements of Fatah . . . Iran continues to increase its involvement in terror attacks inside Israel, particularly through a small but radical minority of Israeli Arabs which Iran supports and directs.

It is said Iran will get a bomb within a year.

As a result of monitoring, it will take longer, but the Iranians are working and they may achieve it. This is a very dangerous development, not only for Israel . . . But the world is quiet.

Reportedly, you gave Secretary of State [Colin] Powell secret information about Iran's nuclear program.

We had a very good meeting with Secretary Powell. It's a very friendly administration. Maybe we've never had such a friendly administration.

You don't feel pressure on Israel from the U.S. [to make progress on the peace process]?

No, we don't feel any pressure. I and my government are committed to peace. We have accepted the [Bush administration's] road map and stand by it in all its phases. Currently, I am determined to advance our disengagement plan. It means that by the end of 2005 there will be no Israeli settlements in Gaza and four settlements in northern Samaria [northern West Bank] will be relocated.

Do you think there will be a lot of resistance from the settlers?

There might be. We will make every effort that it be done quietly. You have to understand, people have lived in Gaza for over 30 years. After so many years, it is not an easy thing to leave their homes. But I believe it is important that it should be done to pave the way for a political settlement and, with God's help, peace.

Abu Mazen said he couldn't take over Gaza tomorrow because he doesn't have a security service he could control.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Authority has 30,000 armed people -- so they have enough forces. The problem is these forces are not taking even the smallest step to stop terror.

But can he control those forces?

If he wants to move forward, he'll have to control his forces. We understand that they have problems. . .

I want to make something very clear. With the flowering of political initiatives in Europe, I'm willing to make compromises and move the process forward, but there can be no compromise on Israel's security. There will be no political initiatives other than the road map to peace. The Palestinians are already talking about moving to final status talks. That does not fit the road map and their commitments. It should be exactly according to the road map.

Are you going to run again for prime minister?

Yes. [The disengagement] is complicated and one should not do anything but help the disengagement plan go forward. I don't think that anybody will be able to do it except me.

Because the settlers will listen to you?

I don't think they will listen to me . . . But it's going to happen.

If you get rid of Gaza, does it make Israel more secure?

I believe the security situation will be improved because it's a major effort to defend the area and the people that live there. It will be better from every point of view -- for Israel's international situation, there will be no possibility of putting pressure on Israel, and I think the economy will do better. As I said, it's very hard and needs a lot of determination but I think it's important and it's going to happen.