Zinni's trip to mideast an expression of U.S. concern
Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/9/2002

US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher characterized the return of special envoy General Anthony Zinni to the Middle East as an expression of deep U.S. concern over the "really horrific violence" between Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking in Washington March 8, Boucher said that Zinni's mission is the occasion for both sides to take "serious steps" to end the violence and offers "an opportunity to return to a path of achieving their security needs by cooperating with each other."

Boucher repeated Secretary of State Colin Powell's March 6 comments that both parties should "take a hard look at what they're doing now," and to "think through the consequences of the policies they're following."

Boucher urged Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to do more to bring down the level of violence in light of continuing Palestinian suicide bombings, shooting attacks on Israeli civilians and rocket attacks on Israeli urban areas over the past week.

"These heinous acts of terrorism can only harm the interest of the Palestinian people and their ability to progress towards a future of peace and security, and we continue to look to Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to do everything possible to bring this violence and terror to an end," said Boucher.

On the Israeli side, Boucher said it was "imperative" that the Israeli Defense Forces "exercise the utmost restraint and discipline to avoid further harm to civilians."

"Above all ... civilians should not be targeted, and every precaution must be taken to prevent civilian casualties in these military actions," said Boucher.

Repeating that the United States was strongly opposed to the targeted killing of Palestinians, Boucher condemned a recent botched Israeli attempt to kill an official that instead resulted in the death of six Palestinian civilians.

Likewise, he said the United States was "deeply troubled" by reports that Israeli settlers had taken vigilante actions against Palestinians in a village near Nablus, and said the Israeli government "must do all it can to halt attacks against innocent civilians and ensure that incidents like this are not repeated."

Boucher also called upon Israel to ensure that "maximum care" is taken by its military to prevent harm to humanitarian workers and to put in place procedures through Israeli checkpoints that allow for their safe and secure passage.

"[W]e're very concerned about repeated Israeli Defense Force actions, whether they're deliberate or not, against humanitarian workers, Red Cross, Red Crescent officials, ambulances, hospitals, individuals attempting to transit checkpoints for urgent humanitarian reasons," said Boucher.

Boucher said although there was no assurance that General Zinni's mission would be successful, "we have to offer that hope, we have to offer that possibility."

According to Boucher, in Zinni's previous visit to the region, he had achieved some progress in trilateral security cooperation between the United States and the two parties.

Zinni's visit was subsequently marred by the interception of the Karine A vessel, loaded with arms for the Palestinians. Boucher said the United States had since received an explanation from Chairman Arafat over the affair.

Arafat, "as leader of the Palestinian Authority, took responsibility for this matter and would make sure it wouldn't recur," Boucher said

With Zinni's return, the United States was "looking to [both sides] to take this opportunity to implement the Tenet steps and to achieve security through cooperation," Boucher said.

Previous Stories:
  Bush wants end to violence before he moves   (3/6/2002)
  Bush's approach to the peace process is incremental   (3/1/2002)
  Israeli assassination crimes are provocations   (2/26/2002)

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