U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell landed in Israel last night, and has held three press conferences since then - but the bottom line is that the PA has still not taken any action against terrorists.
Powell met last night with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, this morning with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and later today with Palestinian Authority leader Abu Mazen in Jericho. Following the Powell-Shalom meeting, Minister Shalom made a brief and general statement to the press, speaking of Israel's confidence that a way would be found to move towards peace in the area. Powell then stated his belief that the Road Map plan "shows us how to get where we want to go - two nations who want to live side-by-side in peace."
When asked about PA demands for the so-called Arab "right of return" for Arab refugees from 1948, Mr. Powell acknowledged that the two sides would have to reach an agreement on this at some point, but added, "Let's not let this be a roadblock now and let's get started." He added that there is "more than enough" agreement on the Road Map to get started, and that the main thing is for the two sides to start talking.
His assumption is questionable, however. Israel continues to demand that Abu Mazen actually disarm the terrorists before the Road Map can be said to be underway. When a reporter asked him today, however, if he would do so, Abu Mazen did not answer directly. He said instead that the PA is the only ruling body in the area, and that everything would be carried out according to law.
More to the point, Mahmoud a-Zaher, one of the top Hamas terrorist leaders, said today that it is his distinct impression that Abu Mazen will not even attempt to disarm Hamas. A-Zaher, who said he talked with Abu Mazen on this topic, said further that Abu Mazen would not be able to disarm Hamas even if he wanted to, as this would encounter public opposition from the PA public. Other terrorist spokesmen have gone further, warning of civil war.
Hamas claimed responsibility for this morning's attack that killed Tzion David.
Click here for information on the Sharon-Powell meeting.
After his meeting with Abu Mazen, Secretary Powell called for "rapid, decisive action by the Palestinians to disarm and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure." He also emphasized that Israel would have to take steps - he said they should not be called 'concessions' - to ease the lives of PA Arabs. The meeting had been scheduled to take place in Ramallah, but protests by pro-Arafat elements against Powell's boycott of the PLO arch-terrorist forced a last-minute change of venue to Jericho.
Abu Mazen said that the Road Map must be taken in its entirety, and said he would declare his acceptance of the plan "on the day that Prime Minister Sharon says he will accept it."
Powell lunched with several government ministers today, including Sharon, Shalom, Netanyahu, Mofaz, Tommy Lapid, Effie Eitam, and Avigdor Lieberman. Lapid told Powell said that the "obstacles blocking the Road Map are still in place, and Israel cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of Oslo." Eitam warned Powell that "Arafat is toying with you. Terrorism will not stop until he is out of the picture."
Powell met last night with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, this morning with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and later today with Palestinian Authority leader Abu Mazen in Jericho. Following the Powell-Shalom meeting, Minister Shalom made a brief and general statement to the press, speaking of Israel's confidence that a way would be found to move towards peace in the area. Powell then stated his belief that the Road Map plan "shows us how to get where we want to go - two nations who want to live side-by-side in peace."
When asked about PA demands for the so-called Arab "right of return" for Arab refugees from 1948, Mr. Powell acknowledged that the two sides would have to reach an agreement on this at some point, but added, "Let's not let this be a roadblock now and let's get started." He added that there is "more than enough" agreement on the Road Map to get started, and that the main thing is for the two sides to start talking.
His assumption is questionable, however. Israel continues to demand that Abu Mazen actually disarm the terrorists before the Road Map can be said to be underway. When a reporter asked him today, however, if he would do so, Abu Mazen did not answer directly. He said instead that the PA is the only ruling body in the area, and that everything would be carried out according to law.
More to the point, Mahmoud a-Zaher, one of the top Hamas terrorist leaders, said today that it is his distinct impression that Abu Mazen will not even attempt to disarm Hamas. A-Zaher, who said he talked with Abu Mazen on this topic, said further that Abu Mazen would not be able to disarm Hamas even if he wanted to, as this would encounter public opposition from the PA public. Other terrorist spokesmen have gone further, warning of civil war.
Hamas claimed responsibility for this morning's attack that killed Tzion David.
Click here for information on the Sharon-Powell meeting.
After his meeting with Abu Mazen, Secretary Powell called for "rapid, decisive action by the Palestinians to disarm and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure." He also emphasized that Israel would have to take steps - he said they should not be called 'concessions' - to ease the lives of PA Arabs. The meeting had been scheduled to take place in Ramallah, but protests by pro-Arafat elements against Powell's boycott of the PLO arch-terrorist forced a last-minute change of venue to Jericho.
Abu Mazen said that the Road Map must be taken in its entirety, and said he would declare his acceptance of the plan "on the day that Prime Minister Sharon says he will accept it."
Powell lunched with several government ministers today, including Sharon, Shalom, Netanyahu, Mofaz, Tommy Lapid, Effie Eitam, and Avigdor Lieberman. Lapid told Powell said that the "obstacles blocking the Road Map are still in place, and Israel cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of Oslo." Eitam warned Powell that "Arafat is toying with you. Terrorism will not stop until he is out of the picture."