Jordan Times
Sunday, May 16, 2004
By staff reporters
DEAD SEA — US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday said Washington will not “step back” from its commitment to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.Addressing the opening session of the World Economic Forum convening in Jordan for the second year in a row, Powell added that the US administration will take risks in the cause of peace.
Explaining the White House decision to support Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Powell reiterated that the US saw in prime minister's proposal an “opportunity” to remove the Jewish settlements on Palestinian land. At the same time, he added, the US found it must address the realities, referring to President George W. Bush's written pledges to Sharon that not all settlements needed to be removed and that the right of return of Palestinian refugees was no longer feasible.
Powell assured the audience of more than 1,000 political leaders, businesspeople, academics and the media that “the president's vision remains the same — two states living side-by- side” as stipulated in the Quartet-backed roadmap for peace. The roadmap, sponsored by the US, EU, UN and Russia, calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
Last month, Bush gave Sharon a letter making pledges to the Israeli premier that were seen as a major departure from US policy on the Middle East, drawing anger from the Arab world and major European capitals. The Bush move precipitated the postponement by His Majesty King Abdullah of a meeting he was scheduled to have with the US president in Washington in mid-April.
Jordanian officials said at the time that the Kingdom was awaiting clarification of the US administration's position on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. In early May, King Abdullah again flew to the US and met with Bush, who, during a joint press conference following their talks, assured the Monarch that final status negotiations would not be prejudiced and that it was up to both the Palestinians and Israelis to reach a final agreement on borders, the right of return and settlements.
Powell said Washington will have to wait for Sharon's review of the situation following the Likud's vote against the Gaza pullout plan — which brought the Israeli premier a devastating defeat.
Meanwhile, Powell said he has had talks with Palestinian officials about how they can prepare to have Gaza back.
The secretary of state met with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qureia earlier Saturday in Amman to discuss the Israeli plan.
According to Powell, the Palestinians are willing to consider such a plan once it is made clearer.