SHARON: EVE OF CIVIL WAR IN ISRAEL?

Sharon: 'Atmosphere looks like on the eve of a civil war'
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is meeting on Monday evening [Israel time] with US President George W. Bush in Texas. Earlier on Monday, in an interview with NBC Sharon sounded a cautionary note concerning rising tensions in Israel.

"One should not underestimate the tension here. The atmosphere looks like on the eve of a civil war," Sharon said. The prime minister also discussed the personal threat to his life. "All my life, I was defending the lives of Jews, now for the first time, security steps are taken to protect me from Jews," he said.