US Secretary of State Colin Powell and PLO leader Yasser Arafat are scheduled to meet later this morning, in Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters. Powell is the highest ranking US representative to meet with Arafat since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon labeled the PLO leader, “irrelevant” last December, and confined him to his Ramallah office. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place yesterday but was postponed by Powell following Friday’s Machane-Yehudah massacre carried out by a female Arab teenager, that left six dead and eighty-nine wounded.
Powell rescheduled the meeting for today after a faxed statement was released by Yasser Arafat\'s office condemning the attack. The majority of the statement however, did not focus on Friday’s attack, but rather was used as a channel to accuse Israel of escalating the situation.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Daniel Ayalon called the statement, “faint”. He pointed out that when Arafat calls for a millions Shahids (martyrs) to march to Jerusalem he, “Does it in his own voice, empathically”. Ayalon also said that Israel needs action from Arafat, and not just words.
Powell rescheduled the meeting for today after a faxed statement was released by Yasser Arafat\'s office condemning the attack. The majority of the statement however, did not focus on Friday’s attack, but rather was used as a channel to accuse Israel of escalating the situation.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Daniel Ayalon called the statement, “faint”. He pointed out that when Arafat calls for a millions Shahids (martyrs) to march to Jerusalem he, “Does it in his own voice, empathically”. Ayalon also said that Israel needs action from Arafat, and not just words.