NO PEACE TALKS

However Prime Minister Sharon has refused to negotiate with the Palestinians. Instead, Sharon urged his Likud Party Tuesday, August 31, to support his time table for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal next year from the Gaza Strip and four isolated West Bank settlements, a move, he says, will improve Israel's security.
On September 26, Cabinet ministers will be given draft legislation for carrying out the withdrawal, and the bill will have to be approved by the government on October 24, Sharon reportedly said. By November 3, the legislation will be presented to parliament for a first of three votes.
Sharon has already lost two Likud battles over his pullout plan - a nonbinding referendum by party members and a convention vote. At least half of the 40 Likud members of parliament oppose the pullout, AP reported.

HUNGER STRIKE

Sharon's government has also made clear it will not negotiate with Palestinian prisoners demanding better treatment. On Tuesday, August 31, about 750 security prisoners at the Gilboa prison broke their hunger strike and received food from Israel Prisons Service (IPS), The Jerusalem Post news paper said.
The development brings the number of striking security prisoners to 1500, nearly half of the 3200 Palestinian prisoners who started a hunger strike on August 15 in an attempt to press for better imprisonment conditions, the paper claimed. There was no independent confirmation of that report.
Meanwhile the High Court of Justice reportedly turned down a petition by Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, demanding that the Israel Prisons Service be ordered to supply salt and fluids to hunger striking prisoners.
The IPS has taken a series of measures against striking prisoners, which include the cessation of family visits, cigarettes and drinks supplies, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Please visit News Agency at: http://www.bosnewslife.com