AMMAN (voa) – U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he plans to “move aggressively” towards ending violence and restoring political action between the Israelis and Palestinians.
After meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Mr. Powell told a news conference in Amman Thursday that he is looking forward to meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Friday, and with isolated Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday.
Mr. Powell said he and King Abdullah stressed the need for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. He said both Jordan and the United States are ready to meet this need.
At the news conference, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher expressed confidence in Mr. Powell’s peace mission. He said Jordan wants to work with the United States and Egypt to create a “credible alternative” to the violence in the Middle East.
Mr. Powell’s brief visit to Jordan and working-dinner meeting with King Abdullah was the last of several preliminary stops. Mr. Powell has been trying to generate support, especially from U.S. Arab allies, for his effort to end the fighting and restore a regional peace process.
Israel has resisted U.S. calls for a full withdrawal from the Palestinian areas occupied in its military drive in the West Bank. But before leaving Madrid for the region earlier Thursday, Mr. Powell said he refused to be a pessimist about the task ahead of him.
He also said Israel will not be able to eliminate, by force of arms, the Palestinian political frustrations that give rise to terrorism.
“That violence and that anger and frustration which fuels it will be there unless we find a negotiating process that both sides have confidence in, and a negotiating process that will lead to what the Palestinian people want – a state where they can raise their children and design their own futures living side-by-side with Israel,” Secretary Powell.
