Powell to meet Arafat and Sharon in peace bid

Agencia EFE S.A.< ^ | Sunday, April 14, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

Jerusalem, Apr 14, 2002 (EFE via COMTEX) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is to meet later Sunday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and then with Israeli Prime Miniser Ariel Sharon, diplomatic sources said.

Powell is expected to urge the Israelis to withdraw their troops from the Palestinian territories which they invaded more than two weeks ago and wants to get both sides to agree to a cease-fire in the 19-month-old conflict.

According to Palestinian sources, Powell will travel to Arafat's residence in the West Bank city of Ramallah which is surrounded by Israeli soldiers and tanks for the talks.

They were originally scheduled to meet Saturday but Powell cancelled the visit after Arafat declined to condemn a Palestinian suicide bombing the day before in Jerusalem which killed six people.

But the Palestinian leader later issued a statement condemning "all attacks against innocent civilians and the meeting was on again.

After his talks with Arafat, Powell is to return to Israel to meet with Sharon. The two hade met on Friday.

Sharon, who wants to marginalize Arafat as the recognized leader of the Palestinians, described Powell's talks with Arafat as "a tragic error."

Both Israeli and Palestinian political commentators say that there is little chance the the secretary of state will achieve his goals as the two sides are so far apart and the hatred runs too deep.

    ez/bj

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Copyright (c) 2002. Agencia EFE S.A.

[JohnHuang2]

Sunday, April 14, 2002

Quote of the Day by JimSEA

[GeronL]

2 days after Arafats own Ala Aqsa Martyr's Brigade blew up a bus in Israel, the US announces millions in new Palestinian aid and Powell meets with Arafat.

Who says we're sending the wrong message??

[RamsNo1]

Just what I said previously---Powell will probably come out of the Sunday meeting still criticizing Sharon and getting nothing from Arafat. In other words, same old, same old dismal failure. This has been a totally catastrophic couple of months for Bush's domestic and foreign policy. Oh, what the heck, send the Abu Sayyaf a couple more thousand dollars for good measure.

[The Westerner]

Palestine only needs to send a letter of intent and Israel is required to cease and desist. A promisory note of a liar is the currency that America will offer a tiny nation as an incentive to lay down its arms. This is payment for the dead and maimed victims of the man whose bloodstained hand our emissary of peace will shake today.

[GeronL]

Richard Cook, West Bank field director for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, said dead bodies were piling up.

Following his meeting with five officials of U.N. and Red Cross aid groups, Powell announced the United States will contribute an additional $30 million for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency on top of the $80 million already contributed annually.

Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, the administration is providing $62 million in assistance for health care, water system repairs and emergency food aid, Powell said.

"We call upon the international community to do all it can to help at this time of exceptional Palestinian need," he said.