Yasser Arafat thanked Powell for his \"continued efforts on behalf of the Palestinians,\" and expressed support for the speech. Itim News Agency reports, however, that other voices in the PA criticized the speech as being \"empty of practical content\" and \"designed to cover up for the continued American actions against the Palestinians and the Moslems in Afghanistan, in order to prevent a regional escalation and enable Israel to continue its activities against the Palestinians.\"
Middle East media analyst Michael Widlanski notes that the official PA media \"virtually ignored all elements in [Powell\'s speech] that were critical of the Palestinian Authority.\" Voice of Palestine last night noted pro-PA aspects of Powell\'s speech - support for a Palestinian state, demands for an end to Israeli settlements, and a call to end \'Israeli occupation\' - but ignored others. For instance, Widlanski reports, PA listeners were not informed that \"Powell insisted that the terms for ending occupation - the details of boundaries and timetables - had to be worked out in mutual agreement as part of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.\"
PA official Nabil Sha\'ath and Oslo-architect Yossi Beilin were apparently disappointed by the speech. Contrary to their predictions, Powell\'s speech did not back the stationing of international observers in Judea and Samaria, nor did it void the 7-day period of no hostility demanded by Israel before talks could open.
Middle East media analyst Michael Widlanski notes that the official PA media \"virtually ignored all elements in [Powell\'s speech] that were critical of the Palestinian Authority.\" Voice of Palestine last night noted pro-PA aspects of Powell\'s speech - support for a Palestinian state, demands for an end to Israeli settlements, and a call to end \'Israeli occupation\' - but ignored others. For instance, Widlanski reports, PA listeners were not informed that \"Powell insisted that the terms for ending occupation - the details of boundaries and timetables - had to be worked out in mutual agreement as part of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.\"
PA official Nabil Sha\'ath and Oslo-architect Yossi Beilin were apparently disappointed by the speech. Contrary to their predictions, Powell\'s speech did not back the stationing of international observers in Judea and Samaria, nor did it void the 7-day period of no hostility demanded by Israel before talks could open.