King Mohammed to Powell, why not visit Jerusalem first

The US secretary of state Colin Powell on Monday said that "Israel has to pull out from the West Bank now," warning that its operations are creating grave and major problems, while the Moroccan King wished Powell " Good Luck" in his mission considering his mission to put an end to the escalation in the Middle East will be difficult.

Powell said before the press, in remarks to previous calls made by the US President for the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian cities that "The President, meant now."

Powell added following his meeting with the Moroccan Monarch in his first leg of his Middle East tour which he will conclude in Israel by the end of the week that the "strategic problems created by this operation are great and grave," he continued that we "all believe that it is time to start their withdrawal."

King Mohammed said before the beginning of his talks with Powell as stated by journalists in Aghadir "I hope you good luck because the matter will be difficult." King Mohammed IV questioned Powell saying " would'nt it be more important to head first to Jerusalem."

On Monday Powell started in Aghadir, to the south of Morocco on a tour in the Middle East during which he will try to put an end to the escalation of battles between Israel and the Palestinians. Powell held a meeting with the King Mohammed IV who presides over the Jerusalem committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The American secretary of state then headed for Casablanca where he met on Monday evening with the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz who has been in a private visit to Morocco since several days.