Sharon Pledges No Policy Change, Peace Bids Continue

The contradicting developments come only hours after Israeli and Palestinian officials were reportedly near agreement on an Israeli withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip, and also as an Egyptian political and security delegation arrived Sunday in the Gaza Strip to revive inter-factional talks and obtain a ceasefire to attacks on Israel.

While the roadmap calls on Israel to freeze its settlement activities and stop assassinations of Palestinian resistance activists, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian fighter Sunday in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun.

Also, four new Jewish settlement outposts have been set up in the West Bank and the demolition of three outposts under a U.S.-backed peace plan has been delayed, the Peace Now movement and settlers said Sunday.