Powell Warns of Mideast 'Cliff,' Seeks Arafat Help

Reuters ^ | Thu August 21, 2003 12:55 PM ET

[yonif]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday Israel and the Palestinians would fall off "a cliff" if they abandon a U.S. peace plan, and he urged Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to help stop attacks on Israel after a bomb killed 20 people in Jerusalem this week.

U.S. officials fear Tuesday's attack by a suicide bomber from the Hamas militant group will unleash a fresh cycle of attack and retaliation, something that may already be happening as Israel killed a senior Hamas official and Palestinian militant groups called off their seven-week-old cease-fire.

Powell, the main advocate of the U.S.-backed peace plan that calls for the creation of a Palestinian state as early as 2005, insisted the so-called "road map" had not hit a dead end.

"The end of the road map is a cliff that both sides will fall off," Powell told reporters after a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that focused on a U.N. resolution to encourage others to provide troops and aid for Iraq after a truck bomb killed 24 people at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad Tuesday.

"The alternative is what? Just more death and destruction, let the terrorists win, let those who have no interest in a Palestinian state win, let those who have no interest but killing innocent people win? No. That is not an acceptable outcome," he said. "Both parties realize it and I think both sides should recommit themselves to finding a way forward."

Powell's appeal to Arafat, whom Washington has tried for months to marginalize, was an implicit acknowledgment that he retains influence and that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas may not have the muscle to stop attacks on Israel.

"I call on Chairman Arafat to work with Prime Minister Abbas and to make available to Prime Minister Abbas those security elements that are under his control so that they can allow progress to be made on the road map -- end terror, end this violence that just results in the further repetition of the cycle that we've seen so often," Powell said.

He called for all countries, including Arab nations, "to step up now and insist that the terror perpetrated by organizations such as Hamas must come to an end."

While he did not cite Syria by name, Powell has long called on Damascus to stop supporting Palestinian militant groups that the United States believes operate from Syrian territory.

The collapse of the temporary cease-fire declared by Palestinian militant groups on June 29 would be a major blow to U.S. efforts to end 34 months of Israeli-Palestinian violence that erupted after a previous round of U.S. peace talks under former U.S. President Bill Clinton ended in failure.

While the cease-fire had mixed results, it had markedly reduced Palestinian violence against Israelis.

[DoughtyOne]

It's always a cliff when people die on the other side of the demarcation line isn't it Colen.

[Pubbie]

"Powell Warns of Mideast 'Cliff,' Seeks Arafat Help"

That title should read:

"Powell Desperate To Save His Own Ass"

[yonif]

"The alternative is what? Just more death and destruction, let the terrorists win, let those who have no interest in a Palestinian state win, let those who have no interest but killing innocent people win? No. That is not an acceptable outcome," he said. "Both parties realize it and I think both sides should recommit themselves to finding a way forward."

They have already won. All these years of terrorism against Israel has made the US government support their "cries" for state, which is set out to REPLACE Israel. They have already won, as you legitimize them as a side in the roadmap (which the Palestinian Authority fills as a terrorist regime). Terrorists cannot be negotiated with.

And now you are even calling for Arafat's help after you said Arafat should be sidelined?

This is very sad.

[Cyber Liberty]

Why in the heck is Powell keeping this clown alive?

[yonif]

fresh cycle of attack and retaliation

Let me also comment on this. This is a false statement. The fact is attacks continue to be directed at Israel constantly. Israel then, at times, when the attack is big, decides to respond.

THERE IS NO attack and retaliation. BUT CONSTANT terrorist attacks and once and a while a Israeli retaliation.

SO there is no "cycle" or "cycle of violence"

[mict42]

Why doesn't he just shut up and let Isreal handle it. He sounds just like the French when we went into Iraq.

[DoughtyOne]

That about sums it up for me.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

==================

"I call on Chairman Arafat to work with Prime Minister Abbas and to make available to Prime Minister Abbas those security elements that are under his control so that they can allow progress to be made on the road map -- end terror, end this violence that just results in the further repetition of the cycle that we've seen so often," Powell said.

Is that the terrorist Arafat the the White House won't deal with? I fear the administration's duplicity is showing.

[AMNZ]

Just what we need. Arrafat back. Jezzz!?%#$

[Cold Heat]

He should not be appealing, but assassinating.

[richardtavor]

Powell needs to be in an asylum for the criminally insane--the blood of 20+ Jews is not on Hamas' hands, it is on his and the State Department.

[Catspaw]

WHAT! Powell is asking the chief Palie terrorist for help to stem Palie terrorism? Did I just step through the looking glass?

[Thinkin' Gal]

Is this where everybody gathers around Powell and chants, "Jump!"?

[af_vet_1981]

"I call on Sheik Bin Laden to work with King Fahd and to make available to King Fahd those security elements that are under his control so that they can allow progress to be made on the road map -- end terror, end this violence that just results in the further repetition of the cycle that we've seen so often," Powell said.

[swarthyguy]

That's because not enough Israelis have died yet.

The Saudis say so.

[swheats]

"he urged Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to help stop attacks on Israel"

Can we please try something else. How about literally taking him out of the equation. What incentive does Arafat have to stop the madness? Powell must be mad to continue on this path.

Is this man's life really worth the numbers that have been lost in trying to reason with him. He deserves a few nights in Gitmo.

[yonif]

This shows the true colors of the administration all along and maybe even explains why they continue to keep a safety net around Arafat.

[Bobby777]

Powell Warns of Mideast 'Cliff,' Seeks Arafat Help

I see, that after a brief respite, Powell is back to his usual, looney, delusional self ... next, he'll call on the House of Saud to help stop Saudi terror ...

[Trust but Verify]

That's right. Bush and Powell made that suicide bomber blow himself up. You people are as bad as the Democrats. Shame.