In a recent interview with the Newsweek, Sharon labeled the Quartet, namely the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, as "nothing", and said Israel would not take seriously the Quartet-sponsored roadmap peace plan.

"There is another plan that will work," the prime minister was quoted as saying.

According to Sharon, any peace initiative should be carried out under three preconditions, including removing the leadership of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, appointing a prime minister for the Palestinians and concluding a comprehensive reform of the Palestinian National Authority.

"I am ready, if the Palestinians have taken steps against terror, to recognize a fully demilitarized Palestinian state without final borders," Sharon added.

It was the first time in the year 2003 for the prime minister to make remarks on the Quartet and the roadmap peace plan, which calls for an end to violence and the implementation of confidence-building measures between the two sides to help restart the peace talks.

The plan, presented by the US side last October, supports the establishment of a temporary Palestinian state by 2003 and the final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in 2005.

Sharon expressed his acceptance of the plan last year, but rejected a full withdrawal of settlements.

However, his conditioned acceptance of a future Palestinian state has provoked Israel's right-wingers, including hawkish members led by Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Likud party.

The Quartet failed to pass the roadmap on last Dec. 20 as scheduled, due to the opposition from the United States, which claimed to discuss and pass the plan after the Israeli general elections.

Recent public opinion polls conducted by Israel's mainstream media have showed that the Sharon-led Likud would overwhelmingly win the elections, which is scheduled on Jan. 28.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2003)