HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- You should be in Israel, Moroccan king
tells Powell
Low expectation of breakthrough on US mission Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic
editor The US secretary of state, Colin
Powell, was yesterday publicly rebuked by the Moroccan leader, King Mohammed VI,
for his week-long delay in going to Israel.
Mr Powell has been widely criticised by Palestinians and their supporters for
the delay, which they say Israel is using to continue its offensive.
He arrived in Morocco yesterday on the first leg of his peace mission, and
will visit Spain and Egypt before going on to Israel. After meeting King
Mohammed, he called for "a clear statement from Israel that they are beginning
to withdraw" from the West Bank and "to do it now".
King Mohammed, one of the moderate Arab leaders who has been trying to act as
an intermediary in the Middle East conflict, raised the issue of the delay when
the two posed for cameramen. It is rare for an Arab leader to be critical of
guests in public. The king said: "Don't you think it was more important to go to
Jerusalem first?" Mr Powell replied: "We considered all options."
Mr Powell's visit to Israel, his third in the past 15 months, is potentially
one of the most important pieces of US shuttle diplomacy of recent years. His
last trip to the region nine months ago turned out to be fruitless and he is
playing down expectations of success . He told King Mohammed: "It is going to be
difficult."
Before leaving America, he said to NBC: "I'm not going to come back at the
end of this trip with a peace treaty in hand. I'm not even sure I'll have a
ceasefire in hand. But that will be my goal, to try to help both sides out of
this tragic situation in which they find themselves."
In Washington yesterday, an angry-looking President Bush restated his demands
to both sides before going on to make a speech in Tennessee. He told reporters:
"I meant what I said to the prime minister of Israel. I expect there to be a
withdrawal without delay. I also meant what I said to the Arab world - that in
order for there to be peace, nations must stand up and leaders must stand up and
condemn terrorism."
As well as seeing King Mohammed yesterday, Mr Powell was scheduled to meet
Crown Prince Abdullah, the Saudi Arabian leader and author of the latest Arab
peace plan, who has a summer residence in Casablanca.
Mr Powell wants both King Mohammed and Crown Prince Abdullah to persuade the
Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to rein in the suicide bombers as a precursor
to a ceasefire and political negotiations. Mr Powell said after his meeting with
the king that he hoped to see Mr Arafat later this week.
Amr Moussa, the leader of the Arab League, the umbrella organisation for Arab
states, said Mr Powell has little chance of succeeding if he does not meet Mr
Arafat. "I don't think he'll find any other interlocutor among the Palestinians
and the mission will fail," he said.
Anger among Arab nations at Israel and the US continued to grow yesterday
over Israel's refusal to withdraw. And nor did the US show much sign of trying
to bring Israel into line. Mr Powell said he was not considering cutting back on
the $2.7bn (�1.9bn) in aid the US gives to Israel annually or to withhold
military supplies.
Mr Powell, who turned 65 on Friday, is in a stronger position than last year
because at that time Mr Bush did not want to become drawn into the conflict.
This time Mr Powell has the authority of the president behind him.
The US envoy, Anthony Zinni, met Mr Sharon yesterday, evidently to convey
American displeasure, in case he was in any doubt.
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