JERICHO,
West Bank, May 11 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Secretary of
State Colin Powell ended a critical round of talks with Israeli and
Palestinian leaders on Sunday, May 11, with no sign of progress toward
persuading them to begin implementing a peace "road map."
Following
a meeting with Powell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas insisted on a total halt of Israeli
settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and warned against a
"selective" approach to the staged peace plan urging Israel to
accept it.
"We
look forward to a total end of settlements, ending the siege, the
separation wall, assassinations, collective punishment, the destruction
of farmland, infrastructure and the restriction of movement of
citizens," Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, said at a joint press
conference with Powell, on a Middle East mission to promote a
U.S.-backed "roadmap".
Abu
Mazen said that Israel should also release Palestinian prisoners and
lift measures against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Powell will not
meet the Palestinian leader whose movements are still restricted by
Israeli occupation forces.
"Israel
must free thousands of prisoners ... and we also demand that freedom of
movement be guaranteed for Arafat and an end of all measures against
him," he added.
‘Immediate
Implementation’
On
his part, Powell said that time was ripe for immediate implementation of
the "roadmap" for peace in the Middle East.
"There
are still comments to be received by the Israeli side. But there is
sufficient goodwill, sufficient commitment that we can get started
now," Powell told the joint press conference.
The
Palestinians have accepted the three-phase plan aimed at ending
violence, resuming talks and creating a Palestinian state within three
years, but Israel has listed 15 reservations and has not officially
accepted the blueprint, Agence France -Presse (AFP) reported.
Powell
also urged the Palestinians to take action to dismantle what he called
"terrorist infrastructure."
"I
urge you to move quickly and decisively to dismantle the terrorist
infrastructure which has destroyed lives and aspirations," Powell
said at a joint press conference.
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Powell
(L) with Sharon before their meeting at the Prime Minister's
residence in occupied Jerusalem
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"I
have underscored to Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon and his government the
need for Israel to do its part in improving the daily lives of
Palestinians," he stressed.
Powell
called in a press conference with Sharon earlier in the day that the new
Palestinian government should move quickly to disarm what he called
"militants" behind attacks against Israeli targets, as
required under the "roadmap".
But
Abu Mazen warned against a "selective" approach to the staged
peace plan and urged Israel to accept it.
Sharon
reportedly did not present the "roadmap" to his Cabinet for
debate, raising Palestinian fears that the Jewish state might backtrack
on following its terms.
"We
are not very pleased at these negotiations, because the Israeli position
is negative," Palestinian Cabinet Affairs Minister Yasser Abed
Rabbo said after a meeting with Powell.
"The
Israelis want to agree on some points and not others. They want to do
everything and they don't want to do anything."
Sharon
said in the conference with the visiting U.S. official that he gave
priority to Israel's security.
"Israel
will not be able to make any concessions, or compromise when it comes to
security, not now, not in the future," Sharon said.
He
said a "genuine" Palestinian crackdown on what he called
Palestinian "militants" was the key to progress towards peace.
"In
order to make progress and to not miss this opportunity, we will soon be
meeting with our Palestinian colleagues and with the help of the
Americans we will be able to achieve a settlement that will lead to
peace," Sharon said.
But
the Islamic resistance movement Hamas said that Sharon predicted Abu
Mazen could never achieve these goals and charged Sharon's demand was
"tantamount to asking the Palestinians to wage his own imperialist
war in Palestine".
'Promising'
Powell
also said that Israel's measures towards peace with the Palestinians
were "very promising."
"The
steps that the prime minister mentioned to me are very promising and
very helpful and show Israel's commitment to begin this process and not
lose this moment of opportunity," Powell said.
He
welcomed "the positive steps" taken by Palestinian officials
towards reform and towards peace.
"But
we must also see rapid, decisive action by the Palestinians to disarm
and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure… Without such action, our
best efforts will fail," Powell added.
Powell
arrived in Jericho Sunday afternoon to begin a series of meetings with
Abbas and members of his cabinet, including interior security minister
Mohammad Dahlan, who is expected to spearhead Palestinian efforts to
curb "violence".
Meanwhile,
an Israeli settler was killed in a Palestinian drive-by shooting attack
near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ofra, Israeli police said.
The
Israeli army also continued its controversial policy of house
demolitions in the Gaza Strip, destroying three in the southern Khan
Yunis refugee camp during a brief incursion, Palestinian security
sources said.
