Clashes in Abu Deis: Washington stresses commitment to peace

Clashes erupted yesterday between the Israeli occupation soldiers and scores of Palestinian protesters at the wall of separation, in Abu Deis town, to the east of occupied Jerusalem.

The young Palestinians threw the Israeli forces with stones while these forces used bullets and gas bombs against the demonstrators.

The escalation of Palestinian people's anger comes amid growing opposition by the world public opinion and the decision of the International Court of Justice to consider its legality.

Despite the American opposition of the wall which is adopted by the occupation forces inside the Palestinian lands in 1967, the US Secretary Of State, Colin Powell, opposed sending this issue to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

The recent American position was greatly welcomed in Israel. A statement by the Israeli foreign ministry said that Powell stressed his country's opposition to debating the issue of the wall before the court in the Hague. This was in a telephone call he had made with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom.

However, the court on Thursday permitted the Organization of the Islamic Conference, OIC, to take part in the special measures in considering the wall and set February 23 as a date for starting the sessions. This is, however, after the UN General Assembly asked for a consultation opinion from the OIC.

In the same context, the US under secretary of state, Richard Armeitaj, stressed the US total commitment to the Middle East peace process, despite the obstacles his country is facing in its attempts to "achieve peace " between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

He said that his country will not be late in her efforts to push the two sides forward to dismantle tension and sit on the table of negotiations, noting that two of senior American officials will be visiting the region next week.

Armeitaj said that the Israeli new prime minister is "unable or unwilling " to take any firm stances in the issue of security and, on the other side, the Israelis are persistent not to give up their positions.

This American diplomatic move seems to cover the American President George W. Bush's lack of mention in his recent State Of The Union speech on the issue of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict.

Meantime, the Israeli radio said the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon might visit the US shortly in order to hold talks with officials there. An official source confirmed that the Israeli prime minister received "an open invitation" from the American administration to visit Washington and the visit is expected to be fulfilled in February.