PM cancels Bush meeting in U.S. following referendum defeat

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/423441.html

<snip>

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday cancelled a May 17 trip to the United States for talks with President George W. Bush. The decision comes in the wake of the overwhelming defeat of his U.S.-backed unilateral disengagement plan, in a referendum of Likud members Sunday.

Officials in the prime minister's office believe that given the circumstances, there is no point in a further meeting between Bush and Sharon. The prime minister was to meet Tuesday with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Kurzter, in his first talks with an American official since the referendum.

During his U.S. trip, Sharon was also due to speak to the U.S. pro-Israel lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Monday termed Sharon's defeat a "setback" for the prime minister. Boucher said, however, that the plan, publicly welcomed by Bush during Sharon's visit to Washington last month, could still be a way to move peace talks forward."

[bemildred]

1. Tsk, does this mean no "compensation"? nt

[Scurrilous]

2. Sharon to visit Washington as scheduled: radio

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-05/05/content_1453701.htm

<snip>

"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharonon Tuesday afternoon reversed a decision made earlier in the day to cancel a May 17 trip to the United States for talks with President George W. Bush, Israel Radio reported.

Sharon's aides was quoted by the radio as saying that Sharon actually would visit the United States as planned.

Earlier report said Sharon had cancelled his upcoming trip to the United States after an overwhelming defeat of his unilateral disengagement plan in a referendum of Likud members on Sunday."

[Scurrilous]

3. Sharon: I won't be visiting Washington next week

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/425104.html

<snip>

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the cabinet Sunday that he would not be visiting the United States on May 17 as planned, Israel Radio reported.

Sharon has been publicly equivocating about his trip, announcing last week that he wouldn't go and then reversing his decision the same day.

Sharon had been scheduled to fly to Washington to talk with U.S. President George W. Bush and speak at a conference sponsored by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobby group. Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will speak at the conference instead of Sharon, Israel Radio reported."