'Blair backs Sharon's go-it-alone plan'

Jerusalem - Britain has backed a plan by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to pull troops and settlers out of Palestinian territories unilaterally in the absence of progress in peacemaking, Sharon's office said on Wednesday.

The endorsement by British Prime Minister Tony Blair could pave the way for crucial US approval of the proposal when Sharon visits the White House on April 14.

"British Prime Minister Blair called to voice his support for the disengagement plan and his appreciation for the step Israel is taking," Sharon's office said in a statement.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1081357381197B253&set_id=1

but an easy one to back. US offers financial support for relocation of Gaza settlements , which will cost in the millions.

...has to say about this:

Jail Sharon and create 50% top tax rate, says Livingstone

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1188162,00.html

<snip>

"Ken Livingstone today demonstrates how cowed he has become since his recent readmittance to the Labour party: he tells the Guardian that he wants a new top rate of tax at 50%, wants the Israeli leader Ariel Sharon put in prison and looks forward to the Saudi royal family "swinging from the lamp-posts".

<snip>

"And ahead of another summit between Mr Blair and George Bush, the London mayor added that peace would never be achieved in the Middle East until "the west shows it is taking on board the injustice of what's happening to the Palestinians, and looks at the financial network of corruption between some of the oil sheikhdoms, the oil companies and the White House".

Though he praises the prime minister for attempting to push the Palestinian issue up the Washington agenda, Mr Livingstone says of Mr Bush, "I'm not even sure he was aware there were any Palestinians before he was elected, any more than he knew the name of the president of Pakistan." He has previously described the US president as the greatest threat to life on the planet.

As for the prime minister of Israel, he would like to see Mr Sharon locked up in the next cell to the former Serb president Slobodan Milosevic."

is very outspoken! And funny too. I'm imagining Saudi princes swinging from the lamp-posts. Can't say that I disagree with him.