Israel sent to U.S. officials a detailed letter regarding the exchange of fire initiated by Muhammad Dahlan\'s agents against Israeli soldiers this past Thursday. The letter contains an Israeli expression of \"regret\" over the incident, however; the reason is that although fire was directed at the IDF soldiers, Israeli investigators cannot be 100% sure that those who initiated the fire were actually Dahlan\'s agents.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell phoned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night to discuss the level of Palestinian warfare against Israel. Sharon said that given the current violence, negotiations with the Palestinians cannot be resumed.
Calls for a \"reassessment\" of American-Palestinian relations are getting louder in the United States Congress. The number of Senators who have signed such a call to U.S. President George Bush is 87 (out of 100), while the number of Representatives has climbed to 209 (out of 435). Their letter to Bush says that the following questions should be considered:
Should the U.S. continue to send financial aid to the Palestinian Authority? Should Palestinians \"involved\" in terrorist acts, such as Yasser Arafat, be allowed to enter the U.S.? Should the PA be included on the list of terrorist organizations? \"From our perspective, it is time for the United States to require that the leadership of the Palestinian Authority speak and act against the continuing violence and terrorism,\" wrote the Congressmen, \"or face a significant change in our relations with them.\" State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the letter had not yet been received, but, \"We do take the views of Congress seriously and we\'ll give full consideration to the letter.\"
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell phoned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night to discuss the level of Palestinian warfare against Israel. Sharon said that given the current violence, negotiations with the Palestinians cannot be resumed.
Calls for a \"reassessment\" of American-Palestinian relations are getting louder in the United States Congress. The number of Senators who have signed such a call to U.S. President George Bush is 87 (out of 100), while the number of Representatives has climbed to 209 (out of 435). Their letter to Bush says that the following questions should be considered:
Should the U.S. continue to send financial aid to the Palestinian Authority? Should Palestinians \"involved\" in terrorist acts, such as Yasser Arafat, be allowed to enter the U.S.? Should the PA be included on the list of terrorist organizations? \"From our perspective, it is time for the United States to require that the leadership of the Palestinian Authority speak and act against the continuing violence and terrorism,\" wrote the Congressmen, \"or face a significant change in our relations with them.\" State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the letter had not yet been received, but, \"We do take the views of Congress seriously and we\'ll give full consideration to the letter.\"