U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met last night with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and had breakfast this morning with Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon. Following a short meeting with President Moshe Katzav, Powell met with Yasser Arafat; Arafat is in Ramallah for the first time since he began the current mini-war.
Sharon and Powell appear to be in agreement that the Oslo process is no longer the central issue in the Middle East, and has been replaced in large measure by Iraq and its dangerous weapons-buildup. Powell said, however, that Israel\'s main concern should be the Palestinian front, and not Iraq. Sharon made clear that Arafat must be made to understand that he must stop the violence, and that Israel would not conduct talks before that; Powell agreed. \"Peace is supposed to bring security,\" Sharon said. \"It must be quite clear that Israel has the ability to maintain its security.\"
Also participating in the Barak-Powell meeting last night was IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha’ul Mofaz. Powell was concerned by Mofaz\'s forecast that the Palestinian violence will only get worse. Mofaz said that Palestinians are sure to increase their attacks on IDF forces, as well as on Yesha communities and roads. Terrorism by Hizbullah and others is also expected to be stepped up, Mofaz told Powell.
Powell was also informed by \"senior diplomatic sources\" in Jerusalem that if the Hizbullah attacks on the northern border continue, Israel will have no choice but to react forcefully against Syrian and Lebanese targets. He concluded his Israeli visits today in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.
Sharon said today that if Arafat makes a clear call for the cessation of all Palestinian violence, and renews security cooperation with Israel, he - Sharon - would agree to allow goods into Gaza. Regarding the transfer of monies from Israel to the PA, Sharon said this would occur only after the violence has totally ended. A Palestinian source confirmed today that Muhammad Rashid, Arafat\'s economic advisor, had met recently with aides of Sharon, on a series of economic and closure-related issues.
Sharon and Powell appear to be in agreement that the Oslo process is no longer the central issue in the Middle East, and has been replaced in large measure by Iraq and its dangerous weapons-buildup. Powell said, however, that Israel\'s main concern should be the Palestinian front, and not Iraq. Sharon made clear that Arafat must be made to understand that he must stop the violence, and that Israel would not conduct talks before that; Powell agreed. \"Peace is supposed to bring security,\" Sharon said. \"It must be quite clear that Israel has the ability to maintain its security.\"
Also participating in the Barak-Powell meeting last night was IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha’ul Mofaz. Powell was concerned by Mofaz\'s forecast that the Palestinian violence will only get worse. Mofaz said that Palestinians are sure to increase their attacks on IDF forces, as well as on Yesha communities and roads. Terrorism by Hizbullah and others is also expected to be stepped up, Mofaz told Powell.
Powell was also informed by \"senior diplomatic sources\" in Jerusalem that if the Hizbullah attacks on the northern border continue, Israel will have no choice but to react forcefully against Syrian and Lebanese targets. He concluded his Israeli visits today in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.
Sharon said today that if Arafat makes a clear call for the cessation of all Palestinian violence, and renews security cooperation with Israel, he - Sharon - would agree to allow goods into Gaza. Regarding the transfer of monies from Israel to the PA, Sharon said this would occur only after the violence has totally ended. A Palestinian source confirmed today that Muhammad Rashid, Arafat\'s economic advisor, had met recently with aides of Sharon, on a series of economic and closure-related issues.