Sharon Insists on Nuclear Uncertainty

Some experts estimate that Israel has nearly 200 nuclear weapons. Baradei, after a meeting with Israel Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in November, had said that Israel should sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and consequently open its nuclear facilities to international inspection.

Resignation Threat for the Gaza Plan

Sharon also said yesterday that he would consider the inter-party referendum about the plan dealing with the future of the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as a vote of confidence.

"Everybody who supports and wants me should vote for the plan," said Sharon. Some have gone as far as to interpret Sharon’s words as a resignation threat. If Sharon’s plan is defeated, "It would be the greatest victory of Palestinian Leader Arafat and Hamas," he added.

More than 200,000 members of Sharon’s Likud Party reportedly object to the new plan. According to polls ahead of the May 2nd referendum, 47 percent of Likud members oppose the plan and 39 percent support it.