Sharon, “Military Campaign on the West Bank to Be Completed Soon”

While demonstrations against Israel are expanding to the whole world including South America and Africa, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on the 6th, “Israel will expedite its offensive on the Palestinian towns in the West Bank quickly. ”

Prime Minister Sharon said that in the telephone conversation with U.S. President Bush, who had a summit talk with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and demanded, “Israeli troops should withdraw from Palestinian areas without delay”.

Prime Minister Sharon, however, didn`t say when the offensive would end. AFP reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres implied the possibility of completing the offensive during next week by saying, “the military campaign of Israeli troops, which began on the 29th, will last 2 or 3 more weeks. ”

U.S. State Minister Colin Powell on the 7th left for Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Israel in order to prepare new solution for the Middle East conflicts.

Demonstrations against Israel, which have been localized in Arab and Europe, expanded to the whole world including North and South Americas and Africa, and there were demonstrations even in Israel. 2,000 people in Chile and 5,000 people in Nigeria gathered calling for a withdrawal of Israeli troops, and some 80,000 people participated in the demonstration against Israel in France, Germany, and Sweden. 7,000 people in Tel Aviv demonstrated against the occupation of Palestinian towns by Israeli troops.

Israeli troops, defying the demands for a withdrawal, intensified assaults on the 6 Palestinian towns under occupation of Israel including Jenin, and 50 people at least including 8 Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed at the clash with Palestinian militants during the last two days of the 6th and the 7th.

Jong-Dae Ha orionha@donga.com