Abbas says no to "Gaza state"

from Ynetnews - Abbas says no to "Gaza state", By Roee Nahmias, 27/7/05...

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said ...."We reject out of hand the idea of a "Gaza state" and a 'West Bank state.' The thing we fear most is that Gaza would become one large prison that would not be sufficiently open to the outside world," he said.

Regarding Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Abbas said, “... Perhaps he would be satisfied with a withdrawal from Gaza, but this would mean Sharon does not want peace – this means he would be held responsible for disturbances that would ensue in the region and all around the world...”