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Powell
speaks to Palestinians registered to vote at the Central Election
Commission of Jericho (AFP)
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JERICHO,
West Bank, November 22 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) –
Signaling a break in US
foreign policy following a long boycott of late emblematic Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat, US
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday, November 22, that
Washington would support January's Palestinian election.
“I
think we can make a pretty good case that this is the time to assist
the Palestinians as they go forward,” Powell, on his first visit to
the region in 18 months, said after top-level talks with Palestinian
officials, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I
think this moment of opportunity should not be lost. What I've heard
today is that the Palestinian Authority is committed to reform.”
He
said his talks with the interim Palestinian leadership covered
security and the funds needed for a well-organized election.
Powell
met Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
Mazen), Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei and acting president Rawhi Fatouh.
“America
will help in holding the elections and the departure of Israeli forces
from Palestinian towns,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath
said after the talks.
Palestinian
sources said they expected the Americans to guarantee an Israeli
withdrawal from all the main West Bank
towns during the election period.
Powell,
who stepped down last week and was succeeded
by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, reassured the
Palestinian officials that the
US
did not consider the Israeli proposed withdrawal from Gaza as a replacement for the roadmap.
Washington
supports Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan but maintains it must be part of the
internationally-backed roadmap.
The
blueprint envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005,
but after his re-election US President George Bush spoke of pushing for a Palestinian state in the
next four years.
Al-Quds
Voters
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Sharon
said Palestinians in East Jerusalem
should be allowed to vote. (AFP)
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Powell
earlier held talks with Sharon and his Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom
in West Jerusalem.
After
the talks, Israel
vowed to do all it can to smooth the holding of the Palestinian
election, including allowing Palestinians in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) to cast their ballots.
“In
(Sharon's) opinion, Israel
should allow the Arabs of east Jerusalem, as in the past, to vote but the matter will be debated in the
appropriate forums and a decision will be taken,” said a statement
released by the office of the hawkish premier.
Powell
said Palestinians living in occupied Al-Quds should be allowed to
participate in the election.
“It
will be important for them to vote,” Powell told reporters at a
joint news conference with Shalom.
In
the last Palestinian election in 1996, residents in Al-Quds were
allowed to cast their ballots at post offices.
“Israel
will do everything it can to ease the conditions for the Palestinians
to have their own elections, it includes of course freedom of
movement,” Shalom said.
“We
will do everything we can in order to remove any obstacle that they
might face in their preparations to hold the election.”
Abu
Mazen’s Nomination
According
to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Fatah's Central Committee is due
to announce the nomination of Abu Mazen as its candidate for the
presidential elections.
"However,
various forces in Fatah are trying to present alternatives to Abbas,
or at least to take the choice of candidate out of the movement's
17-member committee to a wider body like the Revolutionary Council,
with 106 members," said the daily.
According
to Palestinian election laws, candidates must be at least 35 years of
age and be registered in the electoral rolls.
Most
senior Fatah members understand it is unrealistic to nominate Fatah
West Bank Secretary Marwan Barghouthi, serving a life sentence in an
Israeli prison, although in some quarters of Fatah the idea continues
to be promoted.
