11 - 17 April 2002
Issue No.581
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 11 - 17 April 2002 Issue No.581 |
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Salvage operation
Washington is determined to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, but unclear as to the means of pulling back from the edge of the abyss. Nevine Khalil reviews Colin Powell's mission
When US Secretary of State Colin Powell starts talks tomorrow with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, he will have a mandate from the Arabs, the UN, the EU and Russia to tell them that the violence must stop, and that a political process must be launched soon in parallel with security steps.
PARIAH, UNREPENTANT: People all over the world have shown their horror at the monstrous campaign of murder and destruction Israel is waging on the Palestinians; but will governments heed their citizens' urging, buttress words with actions and isolate Ariel Sharon? A boycott proved effective in making apartheid too costly for South Africa's apartheid regime to maintain, and the Israeli occupation of Palestine will fold too -- if international acceptance is withdrawn
(photo: AFP)US President George W Bush dispatched Powell to the region on an emergency tour to consult with the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine and Israel. The UN, the EU and Russia also hope to help calm the current crisis. Powell, many hope, will be able to restrain Israel's relentless aggression against the Palestinians, their infrastructure and leadership.
Half-way into his tour, Powell said his mission was open-ended: "I haven't set a departure date [from the region] yet. I'm prepared to stay for some while." He explained that the US was becoming more engaged now, "because we believe that the effect of the [Israeli] incursions are very negative for Israel's, the US's and the world's long-term interest in the region."
At a meeting in Madrid yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and senior representatives of the EU and Russia pledged their "strong support" for Powell's mission and urged the Palestinians and Israelis "to cooperate fully with his mission." They also reaffirmed their support for the final objective of two states living side by side within secure and recognised borders. "We are firm that there must be immediate parallel and accelerated movement towards [a] tangible political progress," said a statement read by Annan.
The quartet also called on Israel and its prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to "halt immediately its military operations... to allow full and unimpeded access to human organisations and services... and undertake all possible efforts to ensure the protection of civilians." On the other hand, they called on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat -- "the recognised elected leader" of the Palestinians -- "to use the full weight of his political authority to persuade the Palestinian people that any and all terrorist attacks against Israelis should end immediately and authorise his representatives to resume immediately security coordination with Israel."
The would-be mediators said they were ready to help implement the Tenet plan and the Mitchell report as well as following up on the situation by keeping their special envoys at hand to help end the confrontation and launch political negotiations. They called on Arab states to strengthen and assist the Palestinian leadership in rebuilding its infrastructure, security and governance abilities, and on the donor community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to reconstruct their economy and institutions.
Powell described his mission as one that aimed "to put together a consensus among all nations who are interested [in the peace process] so I can go to Jerusalem with a powerful message for Sharon and Arafat." In Cairo, he recognised that his whirlwind visit comes at a difficult time, but said he came with a "commitment to try to do everything in our power to bring the violence to an end." He added that it is important to start a political track that will lead to a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel. "We have to link the security and political process together," said Powell.
But he could not say how a cease-fire would be imposed, or whether the US wants the Israelis or the Palestinians to make the first move. "All of this must stop, and it does not help to try and sequence it because we will never get it sequenced properly," he asserted. And Sharon remained defiant, vowing on Tuesday that Israel will fight the Palestinians to the finish.
Powell is to return to the region this evening for meetings with the leaders of Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Starting Friday, Powell will be talking to Sharon and Arafat about what the world community wants them to do to halt Israeli invasions, bring about a cease-fire, and return immediately to security and political discussions. Powell has not met Arafat since he was last in the region in June 2001. Bush, who has received Sharon three times in a single year, has never invited the Palestinian president to Washington.
During consultations in Cairo with President Hosni Mubarak, Powell asserted that the political track should move in tandem with security talks, and that his country was willing to send monitors to the Palestinian territories to arbitrate the cease-fire and help build confidence.
When Powell arrived in Morocco on Monday, King Mohamed VI icily asked him why he did not head straight to Jerusalem to tell the Israelis to withdraw immediately, instead of making it the last destination on his five-stop tour. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah warned Powell that American interests and credibility were crumbling because of the violence and Washington's inability to restrain Sharon's actions. "They are very, very concerned," one of Powell's aides said, describing the Arab rulers' mood during the talks. In Cairo, where Powell received a warmer official welcome, he and President Mubarak discussed how to secure Israeli withdrawal and the implementation of the Tenet plan and Mitchell recommendations, which form the basis for progress toward peace at the current time.
Like Bush, Powell expects Palestinian and Arab leaders to take a strong and unconditional stand against suicide bombings. "This is the time to stop this kind of activity because there is a process waiting for us that will get us what we want -- peace," he said. Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher countered that it is Israel which has been acting with "extreme violence" against the Palestinians, "and this is the sort of violence that needs to stop."
During the talks, Cairo made its position clear regarding the deteriorating conditions and the need to protect the Palestinians and halt the Israeli offensive. It also emphasised its rejection of any challenge to the leadership of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Powell denied that he had delayed his arrival in Jerusalem for talks with Sharon in order to give Israel more time to continue its aggression. "[Sharon] is not getting a free ride," he said. Maher, too, dismissed this scenario, telling the Weekly, "I cannot imagine that this is the US's intention. I think they want to give [Sharon] time to stop his aggression before Powell arrives. But if he does not comply with international law, common sense, Israel's interests and the demand of his closest friend [the US], then I think his situation is hopeless."
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