lennart
20-06-03, 22:01
Powell: Hamas ''enemy of peace''; Hamas: Powell - ''slave of Zionists''
"The enemy of peace has been Hamas," Powell said at the joint press conference with Sharon, adding that as long as the group remains committed to terror and violence, "this is a problem we have to deal with in its entirety."
Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader, responded angrily to Powell's comments, calling him a "big liar."
"This is a statement that reflects and proves that he is a little slave to the Zionists and to his master Sharon, that he is the real enemy of peace and justice in the world," he said.
Speaking earlier, Powell said the United States intended to "blast through" those committing acts of "violence and terror" that have battered a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Powell, on a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories to try to salvage the U.S.-based road map, said a surge of violence that had killed more than 50 people on both sides over the past week had re-energized Washington's peace efforts.
"President Bush is committed that we must...keep moving forward and push through, blast through those who would try to stop us, who would try to keep us from our goal of peace through acts of violence and terror," Powell told reporters after meeting Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
After meeting with Powell in Jericho, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas demanded Israel take immediate steps to ease restrictions on Palestinians and "change itself from an enemy into a partner."
Abbas said Israel should release thousands of Palestinian detainees, lift travel restrictions, end settlement building and stop demolishing Palestinian houses. "The logic of confrontation cannot match the logic of peace," Abbas said.
Powell said he and Abbas spoke mainly about security arrangements. Powell said he again stressed that Palestinian attacks must end. "Violence and terror is not the way to build a state," he said.
Powell said the sight of their own security forces taking charge might give Palestinians in Gaza "confidence that organizations such as Hamas and other terrorist organizations perhaps do not have the right answer."
Late Thursday, the Israeli Major General Amos Gilad held talks with Palestinian Authority Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan to further discuss the plan to transfer security control in the northern Gaza Strip to the Palestinians.
Hours before the meeting, Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz reportedly informed U.S. envoy John Wolf that Israel was prepared to transfer northern Gaza security control to the Palestinian Authrority, Haaretz reported. (Albawaba.com)
"The enemy of peace has been Hamas," Powell said at the joint press conference with Sharon, adding that as long as the group remains committed to terror and violence, "this is a problem we have to deal with in its entirety."
Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader, responded angrily to Powell's comments, calling him a "big liar."
"This is a statement that reflects and proves that he is a little slave to the Zionists and to his master Sharon, that he is the real enemy of peace and justice in the world," he said.
Speaking earlier, Powell said the United States intended to "blast through" those committing acts of "violence and terror" that have battered a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Powell, on a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories to try to salvage the U.S.-based road map, said a surge of violence that had killed more than 50 people on both sides over the past week had re-energized Washington's peace efforts.
"President Bush is committed that we must...keep moving forward and push through, blast through those who would try to stop us, who would try to keep us from our goal of peace through acts of violence and terror," Powell told reporters after meeting Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
After meeting with Powell in Jericho, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas demanded Israel take immediate steps to ease restrictions on Palestinians and "change itself from an enemy into a partner."
Abbas said Israel should release thousands of Palestinian detainees, lift travel restrictions, end settlement building and stop demolishing Palestinian houses. "The logic of confrontation cannot match the logic of peace," Abbas said.
Powell said he and Abbas spoke mainly about security arrangements. Powell said he again stressed that Palestinian attacks must end. "Violence and terror is not the way to build a state," he said.
Powell said the sight of their own security forces taking charge might give Palestinians in Gaza "confidence that organizations such as Hamas and other terrorist organizations perhaps do not have the right answer."
Late Thursday, the Israeli Major General Amos Gilad held talks with Palestinian Authority Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan to further discuss the plan to transfer security control in the northern Gaza Strip to the Palestinians.
Hours before the meeting, Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz reportedly informed U.S. envoy John Wolf that Israel was prepared to transfer northern Gaza security control to the Palestinian Authrority, Haaretz reported. (Albawaba.com)