Posted April. 16, 2002 09:13,
The U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who is on the way of his cease-fire mission, had meetings with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on 14th, but there was no remarkable progress.
The TIME reported that, “The U.S. is leaning toward endorsing plans that would require the handover of land currently occupied by Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip and would extend international recognition to an independent Palestinian state before a permanent peace is reached,” in its internet edition on 14th.
Secretary Powell visited the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in his Ramallah headquarters in West Bank and discussed measures to cease violence, including the suicide bombings. Mr. Powell proposed △ support to rebuild the security force △ economy aid △ mediation of a peace conference to persuade the Chairman Arafat.
However, Chairman Arafat insisted that Palestinians could act only after Israel presents a concrete plan of withdrawal.
After this meeting, Secretary Powell traveled to Tel Aviv to see the Israeli Prime Minister Sharon. While Mr. Powell asked the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, towns, and villages and the allowance of the emergency international aid groups` approach to the Jenin refugee camp, Sharon did not present the withdrawal plan.
Sharon proposed an international peace conference hosted by the U.S. Sharon said, “We are ready to have a regional conference in which a number of countries would participate, such as Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and the Saudis.” But, the Palestinians criticized this proposal as a `trick.`
Sharon plans to visit Washington on 22nd to have a meeting with President Bush in order to discuss about cease-fire measures.