A rchive Date
[ 16-03-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030314/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_mideast_4
Powell Faults Palestinians in Mideast
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
Thu Mar 13, 8:17 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Palestinian attacks on Israel and a lack of Palestinian proposals for peacemaking are to blame for the lack of progress toward a Mideast settlement, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.
Testifying at a House hearing, Powell spoke sympathetically of Israel's refusal to negotiate while under attack. "Nevertheless, we are deeply engaged," Powell said under questioning by Reps. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., D-Ill., and David R. Obey, D-Wis. Powell agreed with them that the administration would have more support for its Iraq policy "if we had been able to achieve greater progress in the Middle East."
He offered no criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon , who has ruled out concessions to the Palestinians while terrorist acts continue.
"The principal problem has been the continuing violence and terrorism that has come from the Palestinian side directed against the state of Israel," Powell said, leaving Israel unable "to do some of the things that I would have liked to see Israel do to move the process along."
Still, Powell said, the Bush administration was looking for the right time to act on a plan toward Palestinian statehood in 2005. The United States is working on the plan with the United Nations , the European Union and Russia.
The Palestinian parliament's appointment of Mahmoud Abbas as prime minister puts "a new dynamic in play," Powell said. "We had made it clear to the Palestinian side that they needed to bring up new leadership because the old leadership was not getting the violence under control and was not coming forward with initiatives or ideas that would help us build a dialogue with Israel."
Powell said he hoped Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen, would have "real authority and will allow us to move forward." Yasser Arafat remains in command of Palestinian security forces and has the last word on peace negotiations. The Bush administration would like those responsibilities taken out of his hands.
Jackson suggested that war with Iraq could undermine what he described as growing democratic movements in Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and the Palestinian Authority "and perpetuate repression through the region."
Obey said he was concerned "about the hiatus in American deep involvement in the Middle East" and suggested to Powell "that we elevate very, very quickly our focus on the renewal of the peace process."
Referring to the threat of war with Iraq, Obey said, "I just believe it is foolhardy for us to be doing something to the Arab world if, at the same time, we are not doing something for them, and for the Israelis, at the same time."
In an interview, Stephen P. Cohen of the Israel Policy Forum, a private research group, said "the question is not whether the Palestinian violence has slowed down the process, but whether Powell will have the authority from President Bush to proceed with the new Palestinian prime minister."
On another Mideast trouble spot, Powell said he hoped the reduction of Syrian troops in Lebanon "is the beginning of a long drawdown that would go to nothing."
However, "I can't be optimistic about that," Powell said, noting there have been ups and downs in the number of Syrian troops in Lebanon over the years. "I cannot tell you whether this is on a path to get down to zero and let Lebanon be ruled by the Lebanese people without the presence of an occupation army."
 World Fact Book (CIA))]
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