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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (445)	11/20/2001 12:24:44 AM
From: Scoobah	Respond to of 32591

PM aide: What U.S. does counts, not what Powell says by Aluf Benn Courtesy of Ha'aretz Monday November 19 2001 As Israelis and Palestinians awaited a long-delayed Middle East policy address by U.S. Secretary of State, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday that the real test of Bush administration pressure on Israel was likely to be embodied not in the speech, but in the expected arrival of two American emissaries next week. "I am not negating the importance of the speech... but what is important are deeds, in other words, what the Americans will do, for example, after this speech, if they send an envoy or envoys, and what their role will be," said Sharon aide and former ambassdor to Washington, Zalman Shoval, in an interview with Army Radio on Monday. "I would suggest that we not live holding our breath so tightly ahead of this or that speech, because this is, all in all, just a speech," Shoval added. In a Sunday appearance on ABC Television, Powell said he would not introduce a new Middle East peace plan in his address. "We have a plan, it's a solid plan. It's called the Mitchell Report," he said. Israeli officials have been closely monitoring Washington for signs that Powell would demand that Sharon drop his demand for seven days of absolute calm as a pre-condition for implemention of the Mitchell Report or other diplomatic steps toward renewal of the peace process. The secretary of state said he could not force Israel to drop Sharon's seven-day demand, but his words suggested that the last chapter on the issue had yet to be written. "I didn't impose the seven days, so therefore, I can't waive it," Powell said. "We'll have to see how Mr Sharon reacts to my speech and whatever actions he might take." Powell is reported to view the seven-day precondition as unrealistic, granting terrorists veto powers over any renewal of talks. Sharon said Sunday that Israel was sticking to its demand for seven days of quiet in the West Bank and Gaza Strip before implementation of the Mitchell Report. Sharon added that his stance had been coordinated with the United States. Following the press conference, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana referred to Sharon's demand for one week of quiet as "stupidity." Solana said the position of the EU was close to that of the United States, which he said Powell's speech would reveal. Shoval said in responded that if, as Jordan's prime minister said last week, the EU position was identical to that of the Arabs, "then, of course, Europe cannot be a middle-man." Palestinians have also been watching the Powell speech as a litmus test of Washington's intentions. Bouyed by recent administration endorsements of eventual Palestinian statehood, Palestinian Authority figures had hoped Powell would apply strong pressure over the seven-day clock. Sharon, for his part, said Sunday that there had been 268 terror incidents in the preceding 10 days. Strengthening his argument, a bomb exploded near the Jerusalem site of the prime minister's news conference as sappers tried to dismantle it. There were no injuries.