US Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that PLO leader Yasser Arafat must make a decision: to turn towards peace or continue down a path of violence. Powell stated that Arafat cannot expect the US to continue efforts towards a compromise agreement while he continues attacks.
Following a meeting in Washington yesterday with Powell, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told reporters that he is calling upon the US to begin a dialogue with senior PLO officials as an alternative to Yasser Arafat. Ben-Eliezer suggested that Abu Ala, Abu Mazen, Jibril Rajoub, and others may be suitable partners for negotiations. In New York, Ben-Eliezer told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Arafat was no longer committed to efforts to achieve an agreement with Israel.
Despite Ben-Eliezer\'s recommendations, US Undersecretary of State William Burns stated today that the United States would continue to work with Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Burns made his comments while in Egypt for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. MK Uri Ariel (National Union Party) commented that the US refusal to reject Arafat is a direct result of Prime Minister Sharon\'s decision to meet with PLO representatives last week.
Following a meeting in Washington yesterday with Powell, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told reporters that he is calling upon the US to begin a dialogue with senior PLO officials as an alternative to Yasser Arafat. Ben-Eliezer suggested that Abu Ala, Abu Mazen, Jibril Rajoub, and others may be suitable partners for negotiations. In New York, Ben-Eliezer told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Arafat was no longer committed to efforts to achieve an agreement with Israel.
Despite Ben-Eliezer\'s recommendations, US Undersecretary of State William Burns stated today that the United States would continue to work with Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Burns made his comments while in Egypt for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. MK Uri Ariel (National Union Party) commented that the US refusal to reject Arafat is a direct result of Prime Minister Sharon\'s decision to meet with PLO representatives last week.