Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today, "There will be no progress on the Road Map program until the first stage is implemented, namely, the end of Palestinian terrorism." He appeared today before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. MK Yossi Sarid of Meretz had a very pessimistic message for the committee. He told the members that he predicts that the Americans "will be made to suffer daily terrorist attacks, which will quickly sap their strength. The same thing will happen as did in Vietnam, Somalia, and Lebanon: they will flee in panic without having established a democratic regime, without a new order, and with their tail between their legs."
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said today that the Road Map plan is "not an edict... It is a statement of the broad steps we believe Israel and the Palestinians must take to achieve President Bush's vision of hope and the dream that we all have for peace." Appearing last night before the lobbying group AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Powell singled out Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for special mention, and spoke much about President Bush's "vision for peace in the Middle East." He said that this vision "requires an end to the use of violence and terror as a political tool" and that the PA state envisioned by Bush must be "based on transformed leaderships and institutions, must be transparent and accountable, and... must be a real partner for peace with Israel."
Speaking of Israel's obligations, Powell referred more than once to the "occupation" - even though the PA territories never legally belonged to any national entity - and said that Israel is obligated to "take steps to ease the suffering of" PA Arabs and to help "revive the devastated economies [there]." He then blankly stated that "settlement activity is simply inconsistent with President Bush's two-state vision," quoting the latter's recent statement, "as progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the Occupied Territories must end."
Foreign Minister Shalom also addressed the conference and said that the moment the Arabs of the PA stop terrorism and incitement, they will find Israel to be forthcoming towards them. Shalom was to meet today with US Vice President Cheney, National Security Advisor Rice, and Powell.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said today that the Road Map plan is "not an edict... It is a statement of the broad steps we believe Israel and the Palestinians must take to achieve President Bush's vision of hope and the dream that we all have for peace." Appearing last night before the lobbying group AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Powell singled out Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for special mention, and spoke much about President Bush's "vision for peace in the Middle East." He said that this vision "requires an end to the use of violence and terror as a political tool" and that the PA state envisioned by Bush must be "based on transformed leaderships and institutions, must be transparent and accountable, and... must be a real partner for peace with Israel."
Speaking of Israel's obligations, Powell referred more than once to the "occupation" - even though the PA territories never legally belonged to any national entity - and said that Israel is obligated to "take steps to ease the suffering of" PA Arabs and to help "revive the devastated economies [there]." He then blankly stated that "settlement activity is simply inconsistent with President Bush's two-state vision," quoting the latter's recent statement, "as progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the Occupied Territories must end."
Foreign Minister Shalom also addressed the conference and said that the moment the Arabs of the PA stop terrorism and incitement, they will find Israel to be forthcoming towards them. Shalom was to meet today with US Vice President Cheney, National Security Advisor Rice, and Powell.