Powell looks for rapid movement on peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians

By Barry Schweid

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to hold security talks was a hopeful sign.

Powell said the talks set for Friday by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat could lead to shoring up a shattered truce and to peacemaking moves proposed by a panel headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

In fact, Powell said, the new cooperation between the two sides might lead to tackling the key issues that have divided Israel and the Palestinians.

He said the lives of ordinary Palestinians could be improved as well.

Under suicide attack and seeking to screen out terrorists, Israel has imposed tight restrictions on Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza. As a result, their economic conditions have suffered even though the United States is providing hundreds of millions of dollars yearly.

“I am pleased some progress was made,” Powell said. “I hope we can move rapidly.”

After a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, he said, “We will begin to take a more active role as one meeting follows another.”

Earlier, Powell spoke on the telephone to Arafat, Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Most of the Arab world has clamored for a resumption of negotiations between the two sides, hopeful for territorial concessions by Israel.

Powell, in an interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, said “it is an especially charged environment.”

He said the goal of the talks was one Sharon and Arafat shared – beginning to implement the peacemaking measures suggested by the Mitchell panel.

“It doesn’t require Israel to be put back on its heels,” Powell said. “This is what Israel wanted.”