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Middle East
Powell sez he'll meet with Yasser if he has time
2002-04-08
  • As he headed off on his high-stakes Mideast peace mission, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he'll meet Yasser Arafat "if circumstances permit" - and avoided any tough criticism of Israeli military moves. Powell also for the first time criticized Saudi Arabia for giving money to families of Palestinian suicide bombers as he got ready for a mission on which he'll press Arab leaders to work harder for peace. "Any time you incentivize in any way this kind of activity, you are contributing to the activity," said Powell - who then added "yes" when asked if that includes the Saudis.

    Powell said he hopes to get a cease-fire started but doesn't expect to come home with a peace treaty. "I'm not even sure I'll have a cease-fire in hand," he said. Powell said it would be "appropriate" to meet Arafat "if circumstances permit" but was deliberately fuzzy on whether that means Israeli permission or requires Arafat to first speak out against terror.
    I'm not in charge, but if I was, I'd say that if Yasser didn't speak out against terror - publicly and in Arabic - he could just move another day further into a lonely old age.
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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