Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday said at the cabinet meeting that he would take steps toward resuming talks with the Palestinians on condition that "terror" attacks are halted, Israel Radio reported.
Sharon told the cabinet ministers that he would start consultations with foreign and defense officials about this process in the coming days.
"The goal is to keep the initiative in our hands," the prime minister said.
However, he rebuffed Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' proposal to renew negotiations with senior Palestinian National Authority officials.
Sources in Sharon's office explained that holding talks with officials close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will give legitimacy to the Palestinian leader.
Sharon and Peres met for an hour before the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting. Peres' bureau said that the discussions between the two would continue.
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2002)
