COLIN POWELL’S ADDRESS
20/11 2001
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Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a Foreign Policy Address at the McConnell Centre for Political Leadership in the University of Louisville, Kentucky, yesterday that cantered mainly on the Middle East conflict and the Palestinian question confirming its priority within the US administration vision for stability in the Middle East. Even in his short introduction about the US war against the Taliban regime and Afghanistan, Powell stressed that the Palestinians have nothing to do with Bin Laden’s attempt to use their cause for his own ends. To summarize in a few points what came in Powell’s address: 1) A prolonged introduction on what the Palestinians should do, clearly a necessary precondition to say what he wishes to say to the Israelis and Sharon. Powell mentioned a list of what the Palestinians have repeatedly pledged and confirmed concerning the acknowledgement of the right for Israel to exist behind secure borders.
2) Powell declared US decision to play an active role in translating the vision of peace into reality due to the importance of the region to the USA.
3) Powell stressed US commitment to Israel’s security.
4) Powell stressed that Israel has to accept to end its occupation, consistent with the principles embodied in Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and accept a viable Palestinian State in which Palestinians can determine their own future on their own land and live in dignity and security. (Powell used the word “occupation” several times in his speech).
5) Powell was clear in linking the stability in the Middle East with the American vision concerning solving the Palestinian question, going as far as mentioning that the Palestinian people have suffered from the Israeli occupation for over three decades.
6) For the first time, Powell mentioned that too many innocent Palestinians, including children, have been killed and wounded and stressed that this must stop. (This was followed by applause from the audience.)
7) Powell confirmed US opposition to settlement activity that undermines Palestinian trust and predetermines the outcome of negotiations.
8) Powell stressed America’s decision to provide economic aid to the Palestinians and their state. (This was an indirect reply to Sharon’s statement to the Europeans the day before.)
9) Powell also stressed the role of Europe, Russia and the UN, also a reply to Sharon’s statement of the day before.
10) Powell mentioned clearly that the implementation of the Tenet paper and the Mitchell report recommendations should begin immediately until final status negotiations begin, during which the issues of the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees will be resolved.
11) Powell confirmed confidence in Arafat’s position (and of course in Sharon’s) and his commitment to ceasefire and reaching peace.
12) Powell declared that he would send Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Bill Burns and Retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni to the region to guarantee the implementation of the ceasefire until the start of negotiations.
PALESTINIAN RESPONSE
Despite the known clichés for the American Jewish community and Israel’s satisfaction, Powell’s speech was welcomed by the Palestinians as an advanced American position which should be built on. The Palestinian leadership, in a statement released yesterday, considered Powell’s speech a confirmation of the US position and commitment concerning the Palestinian conflict and the Middle East peace process. The leadership declared that the points mentioned in Powell’s speech form a good base for the end of all acts of violence and the resumption of peace negotiations to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Palestinian leadership also reconfirmed its commitment to a just and lasting peace based on international legitimacy and its commitment to all signed agreements and promises within the frame of its strategic interest of peace. The Palestinian leadership also welcomed Powell’s confirmation of an international involvement- UN, Russia, Europe, Egypt and Jordan- alongside the US in efforts to reach peace in the Middle East.
ISRAELI RESPONSE
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also welcomed Colin Powell’s speech referring to it as a “constructive approach” on US policy towards the Middle East. Sharon said that “Israel joins the US in its commitment to the Tenet and Mitchell accords, which precisely describe how to advance toward peace and quiet, that will provide Israel secure borders in accordance with UN Resolution 242, with Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital.”
The Israeli daily “Ha’aretz” newspaper wrote today that in his speech, Colin Powell gave Sharon just what he was looking for- time. The paper pointed out that “the prime minister’s main goal is to win time, while preserving his unity coalition and refraining from making any territorial concessions or evacuating any settlements.”
EU HIGH-RANKING DELEGATION MEETS SHARON AND ARAFAT
A high-ranking European delegation had arrived in the region this weekend to prepare the grounds for new diplomatic peace efforts between the Israelis and Palestinians, in the light of increased US engagement in the Middle East peace process. The delegation comprised of Solana, EU Commission head Romano Prodi and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.
During the press conference following a meeting between the delegation and Israel’s Prime Minister, it was made clear that Israel did not welcome a European involvement. Sharon dismissed a European political role in the region by stressing that Europe should concentrate on its economic role but also called on the EU to stop transferring funds to the PA “because your money will be used to buy weapons for fighting, weapons that are used against Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon also rejected a European Union call for truce and talks and insisted on demanding seven days of “absolute quiet” in the territories before the implementation of the Mitchell report recommendations. At the press conference, the leader of the EU delegation, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, spoke of a decrease, rather than a cessation, of violence as a way to move forward. “The European Union wants the Palestinian Authority to do all it can to put terrorists in jail and to reduce the level of violence,” Verhofstadt said. “And that must allow the government of Israel to start to implement Tenet and Mitchell,” Verhofstadt said.
In a conversation with reporters, Solana denounced the Sharon’s insistence on the seven-day period of quiet as “stupidity.” Prodi said, “This isn’t an exam with the professor handing out grades. There must be a moment when we move forward.”
The European delegation tried to convince Sharon that Europe can serve as a fair mediator and stressed that they have coordinated their positions with the Americans. Solana told Sharon, “You should thank us” for these peace efforts. Sharon, however, concluded his remarks at the press conference sarcastically by saying, “I want to thank you for taking the time away from the problems of your own countries and devoting so much time to our problems. I’m certain that when peace comes, we’ll also take the time to assist you.”
Before the meeting, the Belgian Prime Minister was severely insulted by Ehud Olmert, the head of the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality, who also demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon does not meet with the Belgian Prime Minister. This was due to the airing by Belgium’s national television on Friday night of a documentary examining whether Sharon should be tried in Belgium as a war criminal, ahead of a Brussels court ruling on the issue. The broadcast also provoked furious reactions from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The Belgian Prime Minister is said to have cut his trip short and returned to Belgium before heading to Jordan to meet with King Abdallah.