Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel is willing to make "painful concessions" to achieve peace with the Palestinians, but indicated little flexibility on security and other fundamental issues, Egypt's semi-official Al Ahram newspaper reported Saturday.

In his first interview with an Arab newspaper, Sharon said he supports the idea of establishing a Palestinian state within the framework of the roadmap peace plan, but stressed before that could happen the Palestinians should stop anti-Israeli attacks and end incitement for violence against Israel.

Sharon urged the Palestinians to fulfill their commitments, especially when it comes to destroying "terror infrastructure", disarming militants and carrying out reforms in the security organizations.

He evaded a question on whether he would allow a Palestinian state to be established according to borders before the 1967 war, but only stressed the so-called "disengagement" plan would not be an alternative to the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan.

On the right of return of the Palestinian refugees, Sharon said the Palestinian refugees could return to a future Palestinian state but not to Israel.

He also said the separation wall under construction was not the final border.

The Israeli prime minister also expressed thanks to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for his efforts to push forward the Mideast peace process, especially his hosting of the four-way summit in Sharm el-Sheikh where Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared a mutual ceasefire after more than four years of bloodshed.

Sharon said he shared with President Mubarak the goal of bringing stability, security and peace to the region.

Source: Xinhua