Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will depart for the United States on Sunday to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney at Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.
A senior Israeli diplomatic source told Israel Radio that Sharon will retreat his defiant statement in which he said that expanding Ma’alee Adumim would go despite American and Palestinian objections, and tell Bush that Israel is ready to fulfill its obligations relating to the issue of settlements as spelled out in the road map.
Prior to his trip to Texas, the Israeli prime minister will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.
The director-general of the Israeli Finance Ministry, Yossi Bachar, will also depart for the U.S. on Sunday to discuss with U.S. administration officials possible finance assistant relating to the disengagement plan.ÂÂ
