Sharon sez quit teaching hate

Sharon Sets Peace "Test" for Palestinians

By Corinne Heller , Jeruselum Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, setting a test for a new Palestinian leadership, said it could show its desire for peace by ending incitement against Israel even before any crackdown on militants.

In what appeared to be softening of terms for renewing talks with the Palestinians, Sharon told members of his Likud party late on Thursday that anti-Israeli propaganda in Palestinian schools and media was as dangerous as Palestinian weapons.

"I don't intend to waste time and my plan is to find any way, when the new Palestinian leadership is ready to open talks, to begin to advance our relations with the Palestinians," Sharon said.

"How will the Palestinian leadership be tested? We must not waive our demands on collecting weapons and dismantling terrorist organizations, but it's clear that this is a more complicated process," he said.

"In contrast, there are two demands that are in the new leadership's control, which they must implement immediately," Sharon added, citing an end to "constant poisonous incitement and propaganda" in the Palestinian media and educational system.

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