Posted on 11/10/2001 4:11:11 AM PST by truthandlife
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said early Saturday that he would meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat during the Palestinian leader's visit to New York, in order to try and jump-start the peace process.
He said the he would most likely meet with Arafat at the United Nations General Assembly, held later in the week in New York. However, the Palestinian delegation to the UN said that no such meeting had been planned.
In an interview to CNN, Powell said that the reduction of violence in the Middle East could strengthen the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians. He called upon Israel to open its borders to Palestinian workers, while he demanded that Arafat make an effort to curb the Palestinian violence.
He said that he supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, with an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians based upon the land-for-peace motto.
Palestinian officials accused the United States on Saturday morning of bowing to Israeli demands by deciding against negotiations between U.S. President George W. Bush and Arafat during the weekend UN gathering in New York.
Washington also faced criticism of its Middle East policy from Saudi Arabia, despite its efforts to unite Arab states behind its anti-terror coalition and air strikes in Afghanistan.
Arafat is slated to leave for New York later Saturday. He will address the entire assembly Sunday. In recent days it was unclear if Arafat would attend.
U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice said Thursday that President George Bush had no intention of meeting with Arafat because the Palestinian leader was not doing enough to prevent terror.
Bush will address the general assembly Saturday. Administration officials said that his speech will briefly comment on the Middle East and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will also depart Saturday for the United States. He will meet with Powell on Sunday and will speak at the UN during the week.
I wonder what happened?
I'm glad to see it though. Bush has put together some great guiding principles 1. "We will make no distinction between the terrorists and those who harbor them" and 2. "either you're with us or against us"
If he sticks to them with all his actions I think we will have a better chance of prevailing than by making temporary self serving alliances that we will have to backtrack on later, and looking the other way at Palestinian (and other) terrorists.
It's like this, guys: George W. Bush is the President of the most powerful nation on earth; Yessir Arabfat is just another rag-headed murdering terrorist.
Does that clarify things a little for you?
Land for peace.....land for peace.....is that anything like "peace in our time"?
Why should Bush meet with someone who is so obviously incapable of leading?
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