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Israelis And Palestinians Remain Far Apart Despite Powell's Visit
by Emad Mekay
CAIRO, Feb 25 (IslamOnline) - Palestinian and Israeli leaders exchanged blame Sunday for more than three months of violence in the Palestinian occupied territories during separate press conferences with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
"We are not the ones who are using tanks, helicopter gunship, bombs, armored vehicles, and internationally banned heavy weapons," Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said as Powell, on his first trip abroad after taking office, watched.
Arafat, in Ramallah for the first time since a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in September that has so far cost the lives of nearly 420 people, said peace negotiations should resume where they broke off under the outgoing government of Ehud Barak.
"No government can write off what the previous government did," he said.
Barak said following a meeting with Powell Saturday that any previous peace ideas were "null and void" and did not obligate future governments.
Clearly angered by a question from an American journalist that suggested whether he can control the uprising, Arafat said "do not to copy accusations from one side to the other. Don't repeat blames."
Israeli Prime Minister elect Ariel Sharon who overwhelmed Barak in an election almost three weeks ago, said in another joint conference with Powell that the Palestinians should stop violence first.
"Israel will not be negotiating under pressure of terror or violence," he said. He added that before any direct talks with the Palestinian leader, "steps have to be taken by Yasser Arafat, and he is fully aware of these steps."
Powell, whose country has been the main peace broker in the region, urged both parties "to find ways" to bridge the gaps that divide them, but did not finger point as to responsiblity for the bloody events. He also called on Israel to end its exhausting blockade on the Palestinian people.
"We discussed how it is necessary for all sides to move away from violence and incitement and to lift the siege as soon as possible," Powell said. "That's still a difficult challenge, but one I think both the prime minister-elect [Ariel Sharon] and the chairman [Arafat] are dedicated to find the answer for."
Israel has closed the West Bank and Gaza since violence broke out in late September, preventing thousands of Palestinians from working in Israel and choking the Palestinian economy to the verge of collapse.
The United Nations estimates that the blockade has cost the Palestinian economy $1.15 billion, and has warned of an impending crisis in the region.
Powell travels from the West Bank to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah, to Kuwait for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War, to Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and to Riyadh for discussions with Saudi officials.
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