Powell Determined to Dismantle Terrorist Structure

Assad Talhami, Fathi Sabbah     Al-Hayat     2003/07/1

Following the declaration of truce and the agreement on Israeli redeployment tomorrow in Bethlehem and another city in the West Bank, talks are now focusing on the next steps stipulated in the Roadmap, mainly the release of Palestinian detainees. This is supposed to be the main topic of today's meeting between Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon, in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice suggested a Marshall Plan to improve the Palestinians' way of life, to replace the humanitarian assistance network that Hamas offers. On the other hand, the international community voiced its support for the truce, even Tehran, which said that it supported the efforts to calm the situation, but had doubts about its success given Sharon's attempts to hinder them.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed the truce, but also insisted on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, saying that the country should not have armed militias. He also said it was unlikely for the American troops to play a role in this process. As for the Vatican's Foreign Minister, Jean-Louis Turin, he said during a press conference that the Vatican wished for a "friendly" peace force between Israel and Palestine in order to help implement the Roadmap.

Regarding the withdrawals listed in the Roadmap, a high-ranking Palestinian official revealed that the Israelis are planning to withdraw tomorrow from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala and Al-Khodr in the West Bank.

Earlier, the redeployment of the Israeli army in Gaza was completed, when it withdrew from both Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahya, allowing the Palestinian police to resume work in the passage on the way to Rafah. It also reopened the Martyr intersection on Salaheddine main road. These operations relieved the Palestinians. Still, Israeli forces continued the establishment of a military location on the East side of the intersection, knowing that it did not withdraw from the isolated regions surrounding the settlements, meaning that the army did not completely withdraw to where it was before the intifada.

In preparation for today's meeting between Sharon and Abbas, the Jewish radio reported that Sharon has asked the Israeli internal security body to make a detailed list of the arrested Palestinians as to consider the possibility of releasing some of them, including the administrative personnel. He also told the Likud members of the Knesset that he would oppose the release of people who committed murders. He also said he refused to release Fatah Secretary General, Marwan Barghouti. He reiterated his call for Palestinians to make "serious moves towards dismantling the armed organizations," assuring there would be no restraints for the army's activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In parallel, a Western diplomat told to Reuters that Rice had strongly denounced the wall issue, and asked the Israelis to seriously reconsider it.