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Holy city claim
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ARIEL SHARON claimed on Wednesday, the day after his decisive win over incumbent Prime Minister Ehud Barak, that Jerusalem will remain united and in Israeli hands forever.
Sharon's claim ran directly counter to a key Palestinian demand for control over Jerusalem's walled Old City and its holy shrines.
However, Sharon aides were quick to portray Israel's new leader as a pragmatist the Palestinians will be able to do business with.
Palestinian officials said they were ready to hear Sharon's offers, but would not contemplate any Israeli proposals that fall short of Barak's most recent offer — a Palestinian state in virtually all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as parts of Jerusalem.
Sharon has ruled out such concessions, and said he wouldn't begin talks until violence ends.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's cabinet issued a statement calling on Israel to resume peace negotiations from the point at which they left off, and calling for international supervision of renewed peace talks.(SD-Agencies)
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