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US WILL FOREWARN ISRAEL AND ACT AGAINST MISSILE LAUNCHERS IN WESTERN IRAQ If attacked, Israel has right to respond Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will return to Israel on Friday, following a four-day visit to Washington and meetings with President Bush and government officials to coordinate positions vis a vis the anticipated attack on Iraq. During meetings at the White House, with the National Security Council and at the State Department, Israel was assured of an early warning so that it could prepare for the US attack. "If Israel is attacked, it has every right to respond," said Bush. The President also gave Prime Minister Sharon a detailed recount of US military plans to destroy the missile launchers stationed in western Iraq to prevent a Scud attack on Israel. During the meeting with Sharon, President Bush expressed faith in the Israeli economy and its ability to recover from the present crisis, and praised the Mossad as one of the world's best intelligence networks. At the same time, the Americans presented Sharon with a new three-stage "roadmap" regarding relations with the Palestinians: a) cessation of terror attacks and reforms in the PA, alongside freezing of settlements and IDF withdrawal from areas A by mid-2003; b) immediately thereafter an international conference will be held and by mid-2004, elections will be held and a temporary Palestinian state will be established; c) by 2005-2006, talks will be held regarding a permanent arrangement with the participation of Arab states, and the future of Jerusalem and the right of return will be discussed, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State will be completed. Israel responded by saying, "This is merely a suggestion that has to be studied. It is not an order." At the same time, Sharon was asked by the Americans to exercise restraint toward the Palestinians during and before the war, to prevent escalation of attacks against the US in the Arab world. This request did not withstand this evening's reality check. Eight Palestinians, among them women and children, were killed in Rafah by IDF fire. The tragedy was not due to Israeli initiative. The shooting came in response to Palestinian fire from a residential neighborhood at IDF forces operating near Rafah. The incident demonstrates how reality defeats the best intentions of both the US and the IDF.
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