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LMNOP Palestine resources page: http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP/palestine.htm ---------------------------------------- The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE at http://cbc.ca/news ____________________________________________________ MOROCCAN KING WISHES POWELL LUCK ON MIDEAST MISSION http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/04/08/powell_morocco020408 WebPosted Mon Apr 8 16:37:10 2002 AGADIR, MOROCCO--Morocco's king wondered aloud on Monday why U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is taking such a circuitous route as he heads for the Middle East conflict zone. "Don't you think it was more important to go to Jerusalem first?" King Mohammed VI said during a photo session after meeting with Powell in Agadir. President George W. Bush dispatched Powell to the region to urge Israel to withdraw its tanks and troops from the West Bank. But he won't get to Jerusalem until Thursday, after a stopover in Spain. Powell told Mohammed � considered a moderate among Arab leaders � that all options had been considered. He wants to discuss the issues with European ministers before heading for Jerusalem. He will also go to Egypt and Jordan. Repeating the U.S. position on the Israeli operation in the West Bank, Powell said, "We want to see this operation brought to an end as soon as possible." Israel has a right to protect itself, he said. "But Israel also has to take into account the implication of its actions." Mohammed assured Powell that Morocco would be ready to act on a peace proposal as soon as the Israeli army withdraws. Morocco is a member of a committee in charge of activating a peace initiative adopted last month by the Arab League. That land-for-peace initiative was proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, whom Powell also plans to meet in Morocco. Powell is looking for the support of moderate Arab states in U.S. efforts to make peace in the region. "I wish you luck," said Mohammed. "Because it is going to be difficult." Some Arab leaders have said they won't even meet with Powell unless he vows to meet with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader besieged by Israeli troops in his Ramallah compound. Arafat isn't currently on Powell's itinerary, but he has said he would meet with the Palestinian Authority chairman "if circumstances permit." U.S. peace envoy Anthony Zinni also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to reiterate the president's demands for a quick end to the military campaign. In a speech to the Knesset on Monday, Sharon said the operation would not end until the job of destroying the Palestinian militias was complete. He also said he would be willing to meet with moderate Arab leaders to discuss a peace deal. ____________________ Copyright � 2000 CBC All Rights Reserved http://cbc.ca/ ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Starts & ends at the colonnade between Grand & Lakeshore Avenues, 3 P.M., every Sunday. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
