 |
 |
|
|
||
Newsletter : 1fax0226.txt
Directory | Previous file | Next file
>PD
>Israel Faxx
>JN Feb. 26, 2001, Vol. 9, No. 35
Powell Visits Yad Vashem
By Arutz-7 News
Secretary of State Colin Powell, a former resident of an east Bronx Jewish neighborhood, lit a memorial light at Yad Vashem Sunday.
"I am very deeply touched by this memorial, and I am honored to finally have the opportunity to visit it. I leave with the inspiration it gives all of us that we must never forget, never forget, and always remember the spirit of those who perished during those terrible times."
Powell: Mideast Situation Very Dangerous
By Meredith Buel, Nick Simeone, Sonja Pace (VOA-Israel)
Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking art a Jerusalem news conference, has urged Israel and the Palestinians to bring violence under control, warning the current situation has become very dangerous.
"To get out of this terrible, spiral of increasing violence where we have violence, counter violence, provocation, counter provocation, this is the time for all leaders in the region to do everything possible to control passions."
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon told reporters that peace talks with the Palestinians will not resume until there is an end to the violence. "One thing should be clear, Israel will not be negotiating under pressure of terror and violence."
Powell said reports that Iraq may be nearing development of nuclear weapons underline the importance of containing President Saddam Hussein. The secretary said that if Iraq is able to develop weapons of mass destruction they will be aimed at the people of the Middle East.
He said that a German intelligence report should reinforce his message to Arab countries that the Iraqi leader is a threat to them as well as to Israel. The German report says Iraq could have the ability to fire such nuclear weapons as far as Europe by 2005.
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon has not yet formed a government but he has made clear his position toward resuming negotiations with the Palestinians during his first meeting here with Powell.
"There should be a cessation of hostilities. That should be very clear. And I will conduct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority when we reach the point that the area will be calm."
As Powell met with Arafat in the West Bank later Sunday, thousands of Palestinians marched in Gaza to protest the airstrikes against Baghdad. The protesters burned American flags and yelled anti-American slogans, denouncing Bush and Powell's visit.
Powell has called for Israel to lift the closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and he urged both Israelis and Palestinians to end the cycle of violence between them.
Powell and Afafat met for two hours at Arafat's headquarters in the West-Bank city of Ramallah. Afterwards, Powell said it is time for Israel to lift the siege against the Palestinians.
"I want to express my deep concern for the dire economic situation that everyday Palestinians must bear. It is my view that economic pressure contributes to an overall deterioration in the situation here in the territories. It places great hardship on Palestinian families, undermines relations between Israel and Palestine, and the Palestinians and does nothing to quiet the security situation in the region."
Sharon said Arafat will have to take steps to calm the situation before Israel will lift economic sanctions that are devastating the Palestinian economy.
Powell said the United States is ready to help Israel and the Palestinians if they return to the bargaining table. "Our immediate goal is to encourage both sides to alter the current situation. There needs desperately to be a restoration of confidence, coordination and cooperation between the parties. Of course, the United States can not want peace more than the parties themselves."
In Syria, which Powell visits Monday, the Syria Times newspaper said the Bush administration's first achievement in the region should be to find ways to bring about what it called a just, durable, and comprehensive peace.
The al-Baath newspaper said the region's problem is Israeli policy, which rejects the principle of land for peace. And it warned that the election of Sharon bears the seeds of what it called a large-scale military conflagration in the region.
Arab Girl Who Served as Bait Admits to Murder
By Arutz-7 News
Israeli security forces and the police have permitted the story of how Amana Mona, the Arab girl who said she lured 15-year-old Ophir Rachum to his death.
Mona admitted that she and two high-ranking Tanzim officials from Ramallah perpetrated the murder. According to her version of the story, she had been in email contact with several Israelis. Her success over the Internet gave her the confidence to assume that she could successfully lure Rachum to a place where he could be kidnapped.
The girl said she wanted to shock the Israeli public and send a message to the world. She claimed that she only wanted to kidnap him but not to murder him. Rachum's father, in an interview with Army Radio, said that Mona's capture and the fact that she will stand trial in Israel do not console the family.
| Home My Account Search Contact Us |
by Electronic World Communications, Inc.)
