OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Reuters: Sharon Issues Separation Ultimatum to Palestinians

HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon issued an ultimatum to Palestinians, saying Israel would enforce a separation denying them land they want unless progress was made on a U.S.-backed peace plan within months.

The United States and the Palestinians condemned Sharon's go-it-alone plan on Thursday, and Israeli right-wingers criticized his idea of abandoning some Jewish settlements as part of what he called essential measures for Israel's security.

His Likud party has been thrown into confusion by his apparent rethink on its long-standing resistance to abandoning land seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

In a major policy speech Sharon, warned that, whatever happened, work would speed up on a barrier through the West Bank that he says is vital to keep out suicide bombers and gunmen.