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House Dems in Israel Meet Abbas, Sharon
JERUSALEM (AP) - A leading U.S. congressman on Tuesday accused Yasser Arafat of hampering peace efforts and told the new Palestinian prime minister he must take responsibility and strike a deal with Israel. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who is leading 29 House Democrats in a weeklong tour of Israel to discuss the Mideast peace process, made his comments after separate meetings with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Hoyer told Sharon that Israel is "the worldâs most courageous democracy," adding, "We are together in the struggle against terrorism."Obviously Charlie Rangel hasnât gotten to this guy. The congressman said few of the Israeli leaders he talked to expressed confidence that Abbas, who was appointed by Arafat in April under U.S. pressure, had the power to act without Arafatâs approval. Pssst, Steny, they were spitballing you. "Nobody believes that Arafat is pursuing peace positively at this point," Hoyer said. "And thatâs the problem." The congressional delegation later met Abbas at the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Hoyer said he told Abbas at their meeting that Arafat had hampered peace efforts, and "the world was now looking for (Abbas) to be a partner for peace." He said he told Abbas he must dismantle Palestinian terror groups, a step Abbas has refused to take, fearing a civil war. "But Congressman, that would be difficult to do Posted by: Steve White 2003-08-06 |
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