Mubarak: Sharon is Palestinians' best chance for peace
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the Palestinians' best chance for peace, and said that Marwan Barghouti's decision to run in the elections for Palestinian Authority chairman had damaged Palestinian unity
"I think if they [Palestinians] can't achieve progress in the time of the current [Israeli] prime minister, it will be very difficult to make any progress in peace. He [Sharon] is capable of pursuing peace, and he is capable of reaching solutions, if he wants to," Mubarak told reporters in Port Said, where he had gone to inaugurate a new port project.
"Israel's prime minister said he was ready to do what the Palestinians want, to facilitate the elections, and help in removing the checkpoints. He only asks for one thing: the end of the explosions, so they can work together on a solid basis," Mubarak said.