Powell and the ME

The US Secretary of State Colin Powell stressed on Wednesday the need of achieving progress to halt what he called violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He, simultaneously, admitted that he has no illusions concerning the difficulties "awaiting us" in the Middle East.

In a statement issued prior to the arrival of the US under secretary of state for the Middle East affairs William Burns to the region on Wednesday, Powell added: We have to achieve progress on the three tracks governed by our strategy if we want to halt the acts of violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians permanently and to proceed towards achieving our vision relating to two states: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.