Wednesday, December 22 2004 19:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: British Prime Minister Tony Blair today (Dec 22, 2004) proposed an international conference in London next year on Palestinian reforms and to discuss the future course of action after Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

Blair's visit, aimed at giving an impetus to the stalled peace process, comes in the midst of escalation in violence with Israel re-launching an incursion in South Gaza Strip, three days after it withdrew.

"What (the conference) can do, I hope, is ensure that there is a real sense that when disengagement happens there are plans and proposals in place to allow the Palestinian side to become a real partner for peace with Israel," Blair told a joint news conference with Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon.

However, the scope of the London Conference, likely to be held in February, has been narrowed down considerably under US and Israeli pressure.

Sharon had said Israel will not attend the conference though it "ascribes great importance to the meeting".

"Since the initiative is meant to deal with the relationship between the Palestinians and the donor countries, there is no point to us attending, because it will transform the conference into something political," he said yesterday (Dec 21, 2004).

"It was never anticipated that Israel would attend next year's Middle East meeting in London," Blair said after meeting Sharon.

Asking the Palestinians to shun violence, Blair said, "Terrorism is not the way to a negotiated settlement, it is the obstacle to a negotiated settlement."