Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that Palestinian leaders must take action against terrorism, and Israel should end its military incursions into the West Bank and resume security negotiations with the Palestinians. Mr. Powell participated in a press conference in Jerusalem at the end of his peace mission and after his second meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized to Mr. Arafat that he must make the decision, like the rest of the world, that terrorism must end. Mr. Powell accepted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's statement that Israeli soldiers would withdraw from Palestinian areas in the West Bank within about a week. He mentioned that the United States is working to resolve the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where dozens, including several Palestinian fighters, have taken refuge for over two weeks, surrounded by Israeli soldiers. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that senior American officials would be in the region to work towards ending the violence, and he is prepared to return to the Middle East to continue his efforts. However, he did not set a specific time for his next visit to the region. Earlier, Mr. Powell had his second meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, which took place at Mr. Arafat's besieged headquarters in Ramallah in the West Bank, with U.S. special envoy General Anthony Zinni also present. Today's discussions between the U.S. Secretary of State and the Palestinian leader lasted two hours. Mr. Powell concludes his Middle East peace mission today and is heading to Washington.
Colin Powell's Second Meeting with Yasser Arafat - April 17, 2002
Colin Powell met with Yasser Arafat to discuss the need for Palestinian leaders to combat terrorism and for Israel to halt military actions in the West Bank. This meeting is part of Powell's peace mission in the region, which aims to address ongoing violence and negotiations. The situation is critical as it involves key players in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Colin Powell met with Yasser Arafat to urge Palestinian leaders to combat terrorism while calling for Israel to cease military actions in the West Bank. This meeting was part of Powell's broader peace mission aimed at reducing violence in the region.
- Powell emphasized the need for Palestinian action against terrorism.
- Israeli soldiers are expected to withdraw from Palestinian areas in the West Bank.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a longstanding issue, with cycles of violence and attempts at peace negotiations. The U.S. has historically played a key role in mediating these discussions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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