US seeks a cease-fire, advices Arab leaders to crack down on media
Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/8/2002

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that his upcoming trip would focus on stopping the violence between Israel and the Palestinians, and finding a way to restart the political process that is the only way to provide peace and security for both sides.

"I'm just as convinced today as I was the first day I stepped into the office that that has to be our goal," Secretary Powell said, "to get that cease-fire, or you can't get to a political process."

Appearing on the Fox News Sunday television program, Powell said that the President called for Israeli military withdrawal because the occupation, however justified as a response to terrorist attacks, is causing long-term damage to relationships and governments throughout the region.

"I spoke to Prime Minister Sharon again early this morning," Powell said, adding that he is confident that Israel will respond "without delay," as President Bush requested.

Powell noted that he discussed the humanitarian dimension of the Israeli incursion with Sharon as well, and that innocent Palestinians "cannot get food, water supplies have been interrupted, power's been interrupted, there have been problems in medical services, and these issues have to be dealt with as well." While Powell did not label civilian property destruction and disruption of services as acts of terrorism, or explain how these acts contribute to fighting terrorists, He said Israel's actions will contribute to creating a new generation of suicide bombers.

Powell laid part of the blame for this crisis on Arafat saying he should act like a leader. Powell said "He's got to crack down on his media as well. I'm going to make this case to the Arab leaders I meet with this week. We need more responsible statements coming out of Arab capitals. We need all Arab leaders to act responsibly in this time of crisis."

Powell said "there is a level of anger that is rising in the Arab land that is of concern to us, and should be of concern to Israel. Israel, in this current operation, will certainly round up terrorists, will find incriminating information, will find weapons. But when the operation is over and they withdraw, as they say they are going to do, they will still leave behind those who are committed to violence. In fact, they may leave more behind as a result of the radicalization. And what troubles us is we are losing some of the support that we have had in the Arab world - Egypt, Jordan, you see Saudi Arabia, you saw statements of the foreign ministers - losing some of the support we had for the kind of engagement that is needed with Israel to find a way forward. And this is really what caused the president to say to Prime Minister Sharon at the very beginning of this operation, 'consider the consequences of your actions.' And we're starting to see those consequences and how it affects Israel's long-term relationship with its neighbors and our long-term relationship with its neighbors, that caused the president to say, 'This is the time the end this activity and begin the withdrawal now.'"

Previous Stories:
  Powell can only meet with Arafata   (4/6/2002)
  Observers and Bush's declaration   (4/6/2002)
  Zinni, Powell confer with Arafat   (4/6/2002)
  US protests; Saudi Arabia fires writer for article on Jews   (3/22/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search