Posted on 04/08/2002 11:55:04 PM PDT by vance
You should be in Israel, Moroccan king tells Powell
Low expectation of breakthrough on US mission
Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor
The Guardian
The US secretary of state, Colin Powell, was yesterday publicly rebuked by the Moroccan leader, King Mohammed VI, for his week-long delay in going to Israel. Mr Powell has been widely criticised by Palestinians and their supporters for the delay, which they say Israel is using to continue its offensive.
He arrived in Morocco yesterday on the first leg of his peace mission, and will visit Spain and Egypt before going on to Israel. After meeting King Mohammed, he called for "a clear statement from Israel that they are beginning to withdraw" from the West Bank and "to do it now".
King Mohammed, one of the moderate Arab leaders who has been trying to act as an intermediary in the Middle East conflict, raised the issue of the delay when the two posed for cameramen. It is rare for an Arab leader to be critical of guests in public. The king said: "Don't you think it was more important to go to Jerusalem first?" Mr Powell replied: "We considered all options."
Mr Powell's visit to Israel, his third in the past 15 months, is potentially one of the most important pieces of US shuttle diplomacy of recent years. His last trip to the region nine months ago turned out to be fruitless and he is playing down expectations of success . He told King Mohammed: "It is going to be difficult."
Before leaving America, he said to NBC: "I'm not going to come back at the end of this trip with a peace treaty in hand. I'm not even sure I'll have a ceasefire in hand. But that will be my goal, to try to help both sides out of this tragic situation in which they find themselves."
In Washington yesterday, an angry-looking President Bush restated his demands to both sides before going on to make a speech in Tennessee. He told reporters: "I meant what I said to the prime minister of Israel. I expect there to be a withdrawal without delay. I also meant what I said to the Arab world - that in order for there to be peace, nations must stand up and leaders must stand up and condemn terrorism."
As well as seeing King Mohammed yesterday, Mr Powell was scheduled to meet Crown Prince Abdullah, the Saudi Arabian leader and author of the latest Arab peace plan, who has a summer residence in Casablanca.
Mr Powell wants both King Mohammed and Crown Prince Abdullah to persuade the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to rein in the suicide bombers as a precursor to a ceasefire and political negotiations. Mr Powell said after his meeting with the king that he hoped to see Mr Arafat later this week.
Amr Moussa, the leader of the Arab League, the umbrella organisation for Arab states, said Mr Powell has little chance of succeeding if he does not meet Mr Arafat. "I don't think he'll find any other interlocutor among the Palestinians and the mission will fail," he said.
Anger among Arab nations at Israel and the US continued to grow yesterday over Israel's refusal to withdraw. And nor did the US show much sign of trying to bring Israel into line. Mr Powell said he was not considering cutting back on the $2.7bn (£1.9bn) in aid the US gives to Israel annually or to withhold military supplies.
Mr Powell, who turned 65 on Friday, is in a stronger position than last year because at that time Mr Bush did not want to become drawn into the conflict. This time Mr Powell has the authority of the president behind him.
The US envoy, Anthony Zinni, met Mr Sharon yesterday, evidently to convey American displeasure, in case he was in any doubt.
Just look at the avalanche of Islamics rushing to take the lead in the quest for peace!!!
Dear W... don't hold your breath. Israel will withdraw, because they actually want peace, but Islam will NEVER reject terrorism... The truth is, brother W... Islam is NOT Peace, NOT THEIR KIND OF ISLAM.
God help him see it.
Do you really think he doesn't already know this?
Morocco???????????
No. You should be in MONACO, Mr. Powell!
President Bush: Bring hostage American Ted Maher home from Monaco!
I personally have cery little use for Powell, but this man is one of the most powerful representitives of the American people and what this raghead did was to publicly spit in the face of the American people.
These people have no respect what so ever for the U.S. and if Powell and GW do not stop this ill advised trip by the time Powell gets to Israel our standing as a leader of the free world will be a joke. He has a right to disagree with us, but to dress down our leaders in public is the ultimate diplomatic insult. Bush should recall Powell and our ambassador to that country and demand an apology. I'm ashamed.
In Morocco this might be considered a rebuke, but I still have to laugh somewhat, because by American standards these are the words of kissing cousins with a disagreement over whether to go first to the movie or to the diner. Or at the idea that we even care all that much what the king of Morocco thinks.
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