Bush team to push Arafat on controlling Mideast violence
The United States under President-elect Mr George W. Bush will push Mr Yasser Arafat to curb Palestinian violence and commit to a peace deal with Israel, incoming Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said today.
Mr Powell, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the new administration, which takes office on Saturday, believed there was little point to resuming serious negotiations between the two sides until the violence stopped.
"We will encourage both sides to get the violence under control," he said. "I believe it is in the power of both sides, especially I believe it is in the power of the Palestinian leadership, Mr Arafat, to do so.
"So we will call on him to do that, encourage him to do that and only then can we then see what the next step in the process is going to be," he said.
The retired general said he wished outgoing President Mr Bill Clinton and his Middle East peace team well in the remaining three days of their mandate, as they continue efforts to impel both sides towards peace.
Mr Powell said the Bush administration would be ready to pick up where Mr Clinton had left off as long the clashes, which have killed more than 380 people since September, ceased.
AFP