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June 22, 2001/Tamuz 1, 5761, Vol. 53, No.38
Powell to repeat peace talks in Mideast
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell will return to the Middle East next week in an attempt to help Israel and the Palestinians end violence that has been continuing despite a recent cease-fire.
"The president has asked the secretary to go to the Middle East to help secure efforts to preserve the cease-fire and to build upon it," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said June 20.
Despite the Israeli-Palestinian agreement forged with the aid of CIA Director George Tenet last week, fighting continues in the region.
Bush administration officials said Powell will stress that both sides need to do more to control the violence.
This will be Powell's second trip to the Middle East since taking office, and will come during the same week that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon meets with President Bush in Washington.
The administration refused June 20 to give details of Powell's itinerary, but he is not expected to leave for the Middle East until after Bush and Sharon meet June 26.
Powell is expected to urge Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to do more to control violence, as the last few weeks have provided evidence that Arafat can control the terrorist factions that have been blamed for several of the bloodiest attacks.
Powell's expected meeting with the Palestinian leader also will serve as an acknowledgment that Arafat has made some efforts toward quieting the situation in recent weeks.
It is a significant meeting, given that the Bush administration has refused to invite Arafat to the White House until he ends Palestinian violence.
American Jewish leaders are urging Powell to press Arafat to uphold the cease-fire plan, and continue with the process laid out by the international commission chaired by former Sen. George Mitchell.
The Mitchell Committee called for the cease-fire to be followed by a cooling-off period. Powell reportedly told Israeli Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg on June 19 that the United States believes the cooling-off period has not yet begun since Palestinian attacks are continuing.
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