Powell criticizes Israel
Palestine-USA, Politics, 11/7/2001

The US secretary of State Colin Powell has criticized Israel's access use of power against the Palestinians and considered that a main reason for not reaching what he called cease- fire and consequently resumption of negotiations between the two sides.

In an interview with the Egyptian TV on Monday evening Powell said that the Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza reflects the extent of frustration the Palestinians reached, but he said that this Intifada will not solve the problem.

Powell stressed that need of halting what he called violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that he informed the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat that he ( Arafat) has to exert all efforts to halt what he ( Powell ) called the " cycle of violence." Replying to a question if he will be launching a new US peace initiative during the meetings of the UN General Assembly next week, the US secretary of state said he concentrates on resuming negotiations according to the Mitchell committee recommendations.

As for the campaign led by the US against terrorism, Powell said that there are no plans at the meantime to carry out any new military act and that there is still no evidence so far showing that Iraq has links to the attacks which targeted New York and Washington on September 11 or the Anthrax.

Powell continued that the US is determinant to continue the current investigations in order to know those who are responsible for these attacks and also the attacks by Anthrax.

Previous Stories:
  US, UN urge immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities   (10/25/2001)
  Arafat, Powell discuss Palestinian conditions in a telephone call   (10/22/2001)
  Guardian: Bush drafts a plan for resuming Palestinian Israeli negotiations   (10/13/2001)

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