Powell to Meet With Arafat Sunday
Sat Apr 13, 1:17 PM ET
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
JERUSALEM (AP) - Struggling to sustain his Mideast peace mission, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) on Saturday demanded restraint from Israeli forces on the West Bank and prepared for talks with Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) after the Palestinian leader met a U.S. call to condemn terrorism.
Powell decided to go ahead Sunday with the postponed meeting because the Palestinian leader's statement included "positive elements," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
He cited Arafat's denunciation of all terrorist acts against Israel and Palestinian civilians; a strong condemnation of Friday's bombing in Jerusalem; a call to start immediate implementation of two U.S.-backed cease-fire; and peace proposals and "a reaffirmation of the Palestinian commitment to a negotiated peace."
Arafat's statement also expressed support for Powell's peacemaking mission, Boucher said, adding that Powell will press Arafat for action.
"In his meeting tomorrow, the secretary will work with Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian leadership to show leadership and to help make these statements a reality, with effective action to bring an end to terror and violence and an early resumption of a political process," Boucher said.
Earlier Saturday, Powell demanded restraint from Israeli forces on the West Bank.
In what appeared to be synchronized diplomacy, Powell said Israeli troops must "exercise the utmost restraint and discipline and refrain from "the excessive use of force." He singled out military operations in the town of Jenin, which said Palestinian and outside observers have condemned as heavy-handed.
"We are particularly concerned at the humanitarian situation" there, Powell said. Restraint is needed, he said, to "ensure `civilians are protected and to avoid worsening the already grave conditions inside Palestinian areas."
Arafat responded with the statement denouncing terrorism — the kind sought by President Bush (news - web sites) so Powell could go ahead with his postponed meeting with Arafat in Ramallah, where Israeli troops have confined the Arafat to his office.
Powell's initial plan to meet at Arafat headquarters Saturday was scrapped after a suicide bombing Friday in Jerusalem that prompted fresh U.S. demands for Arafat to condemn terror. |
