|
Friday, 5 April, 2002, 07:34 GMT 08:34 UK
Mid-East initiative gathers momentum
|
Mid-East initiative gathers momentum
Palestinian and Israeli officials welcome new US calls for action to end bloodshed, as the UN urges a speedy Israeli withdrawal. |
|
Israel's West Bank offensive continues despite pressure for withdraw
|
Israel's West Bank offensive continues despite pressure for withdrawl Pressure may by mounting for an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories but in the West Bank the battle rages on. These were fierce exchanges between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen in Hebron during the night. The incursion came after Israeli special forces entered a part of Hebron to detain a suspect. The attempt failed and in the subsequent shooting an Israeli soldier was killed. Almost all of the West Bank's main population centres have now been caught up in Israel's offensive. The Israeli government says the operation is aimed at hunting down militants planning suicide attacks. Meanwhile the stand-off in Bethlehem continues. About 200 Palestinians have taken refuge in the Church of the Nativity. Israel says it will not fire on the Church, one of Christianity's most holy sites. But a military cordon has been thrown around the town. Manger Square, where the Church stands, is a virtual no-go area for international journalists. 15 foreigners trapped near the combat zone had to be escorted to safety by U.S. Marines in a specially arranged convoy. And in Ramallah, the Palestinian stronghold which was the focal point of the offensive when it began last week, the Israeli tanks maintain their vigil outside Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's headquarters. Around the city, soldiers in armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets enforcing a curfew. |
|
Zinni to meet Arafat Israel says U.S. Middle East envoy
|
Zinni to meet Arafat Israel says U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni can hold face to face talks with Yasser Arafat. It comes after the Jewish state turned down a similar request from a European Union delegation. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's refusal meant EU efforts were doomed to failure and European envoys have already headed home. Israel often accuses the European Union of bias towards the Palestinians and an Israeli government spokesman said the EU must show greater balance if it wanted to play a constructive role in the conflict. U.S. President Bush has now shown his willingness to intervene, following criticism that he has not done enough to stop the spiral of violence. He hardened his message to Israel. "I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and to begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied," he said. While he reserved harsh words, too, for Yasser Arafat. "The Chairman of the Palestinian Authority has not consistently opposed or confronted terrorists," he said. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is set to visit the region next week for peace talks. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has once again called on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian areas without delay. |
|
US to send Collin Powell to Middle East
|
US to send Collin Powell to Middle East The US President George W Bush has moved into the fray over the Middle East conflict. He criticised both Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat in a speech, which tried to take the high moral ground. "I ask Israel to halt all incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied." He called for UN resolution 1402 to be implemented for an immediate and meaningful ceasefire, and end to terror, violence and incitement. He criticised Arafat for failing to confront terrorists but also had harsh words for Ariel Sharon from whom he said he expected better leadership. He then added that he would send his Secretary of State Collin Powell to the region to try and broker peace. |
