SHARON: NO TALKS WITHOUT EFFORTS BY PA TO STOP TERROR

Sharon Cuts Ties With Abbas Over Militants
(AP) JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon severed contacts with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas until he acts against militants, a spokesman said Friday, a day after six Israelis were killed in an attack on a Gaza Strip crossing.

The Israeli leadership had initially said it would not retaliate for the Gaza attack and would give Abbas time to rein in the militants. "Israel informed international leaders today that there will be no meetings with Abbas until he makes a real effort to stop the terror," Sharon spokesman Assaf Shariv said. [ED. NOT UNTIL HE STOPS THE TERROR. ONLY UNTIL HE "MAKES A REAL EFFORT." THAT SEEMS LESS THAN THEM MINIMUM TO ME].

..... Shariv said Israel made the decision because the attack on the Gaza crossing was launched from a Palestinian Authority base. [ED. WELL THIS LITTLE TIDBIT SEEMS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO ME].

Earlier Friday, Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip.