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Powell: Arafat Has Power to End Bloodshed

Deborah Tate, Voice of America
June 3, 2001

Secretary of State Colin Powell is urging Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to take steps to end the violence in the Middle East. At the same time, Secretary Powell is calling for Israel to continue exercising restraint. Mr. Powell's comments follow a suicide bombing that killed 19 Israelis Friday in Tel Aviv.

Secretary Powell has spoken by phone several times with Palestinian leader Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon since Friday's bombing.

Mr. Powell cancelled a trip to Central America this weekend so that he could monitor developments in the Middle East. He said his message to Mr. Arafat is that the time has come to bring the violence under control.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press", he said he believes the Palestinian leader has the power to end the bloodshed. "He cannot control every last person, he cannot control every last organization. But I think he has a great deal of control. He has the moral authority as the leader of the Palestinians. People look to him for leadership," Mr. Powell said. "If he uses that authority to tell people that this is not the way to go about finding a political solution to our problems that will carry great weight."

The Secretary said Mr. Arafat's call Saturday for an unconditional end to the violence, an appeal that Mr. Powell noted was carried by Arabic news media, is a very important step.

Israel's cabinet met Sunday to discuss a possible response to the suicide bombing, as well as Mr. Arafat's call for a cease-fire. Israel cancelled its unilateral cease-fire after the bombing.

In an interview on CNN's "Late Edition", Mr. Powell stopped short of calling for Israel to refrain from retaliating, but he appealed for restraint. "The Israeli government and Mr. Sharon are well aware of the very delicate, volatile nature of the situation right now, after Friday night's terrible tragedy," Mr. Powell said.

But former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of Mr. Sharon's right-wing Likud party, says he does not think Mr. Arafat's call for a cease-fire is a serious offer. He predicts Israeli reaction will come soon.

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday", Mr. Netanyahu said Israel has to be prepared to use all means necessary to end terrorist activities, if Mr. Arafat is unwilling or unable to do so. "I think it is time to restore the policy of strength and firmness in the face of terror," Mr. Sharon said. "Arafat has to understand that if he does not stop terror, we will, and we will go to all lengths necessary to defend ourselves."

Mr. Powell, meanwhile, is calling for the parties to abide by the recommendations of an international commission led by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. The report suggests a step by step process for an end to violence, confidence-building measures, and a return to negotiations.

The Secretary pledged strong U.S. involvement in implementing the recommendations

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