US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday urged the world not to lose sight of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East even as the international community reeled in the wake of devastating terrorist attacks in the United States.
Powell said he had spoken with Israeli President Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (twice) on Wednesday in part to tell them how important a long-delayed high-level meeting between the two sides would be.
"In this time of tragedy, in this time of heightened tension throughout the world and especially throughout that region, let's seize this opportunity to see if we cannot start this process of meetings," Powell told reporters.
"Even while we are dealing with this situation, this crisis that is here in Washington and New York, we are also working on the Middle East situation and seeing if we can get that jump-started," he said.
Two weeks ago, Arafat and Peres agreed to meet in principle but the discussions have been repeatedly postponed amid continuing violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"I encouraged all sides to do everything they can to get this process of meetings started that we have all been waiting for, for Mr. Arafat and Mr. Peres to find an opportunity in the very near future to meet and not have protracted discussions about where to meet," Powell said.
"It's more important to meet."
Earlier Wednesday, 11 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army, including 10 during an incursion in the northern West Bank town of Jenin. A Jewish settler woman was also killed by Palestinian shooting -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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