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.
Q&A: Another Chance
Yasser Arafat's death has created new possibilities for Mideast peace. Already on the table is Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza. The next question: Will the Palestinians be able to provide security in Gaza after the withdrawal? Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth talked last week with Sharon, 76, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, 69, also known as Abu Mazen. Excerpts:
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Mahmoud Abbas: 'We Can't Wait'
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Ariel Sharon: Stay With Road Map
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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.
