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U.S.
Silent Response To Israeli Aggressions Encourages Sharon
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| Israeli
soldiers attack Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters. |
WASHINGTON,
March 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – In what observers in
the Middle East branded as a “go-ahead” sign to the Israeli
aggressions on the Palestinian territories, the United States Friday
maintained silence over the events on the ground.
Palestinian
top negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said that the U.S. silence about the
Israeli aggressions is very dangerous, because it is explained as an
encouraging sign to (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon.
Speaking
to Al-Jazeera Satellite Television from Jericho Friday, Erakat added
that “It is not likely that (U.S. President George W.) Bush will
issue a statement about the latest aggressions. (Secretary of State)
Mr. Powell is likely to do so in the coming hours.
“In
his statements Thursday night, however, Bush again condemned the
last Palestinian operation inside Israel, in a clear sign of Israel
to go ahead and do what it wants on the ground,” Erakat added.
In
reference to the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian
leadership and people, the U.S. said it was weighing
"appropriate responses" to the latest surge in Middle East
violence.
“We
followed developments overnight and this morning," deputy State
Department spokesman Philip Reeker said, adding that US special
Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni would remain in the region despite
the escalation in tension.
"We
are in contact with our diplomats on the ground," he said.
"General Zinni remains in the region and continues his work.
"He
is in contact with both parties. We are monitoring events very
closely and assessing appropriate responses," he added,
declining to detail what responses were being considered.
Reeker
said Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the situation with
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon late Thursday and with Arab
League Secretary General Amr Mussa on Friday.
He
gave no details regarding the conversations.
Earlier,
Israeli troops reoccupied the West Bank town of Ramallah and
attacked Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's headquarters.
Israel
claims its current onslaught came in response for Palestinian
operations inside Israel. However, press reports have been talking,
for almost a week, about a comprehensive Israeli attack on the
Palestinians.
In
a clear sign of the failure of Sharon’s harsh policies in
providing security for the Israelis, a female Palestinian resistance
activist Friday blew herself up in a Jerusalem supermarket, leaving
three dead and around 16 wounded.
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