Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday evening that an international peace conference would be convened soon to discuss the Middle East. Participants would include Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Palestinian representatives, but not Yasser Arafat. The summit will be held under American auspices.
Sharon proposed the idea during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Tel Aviv, Israel Radio reported.
The aim of this event would be to reach regional agreements on diplomatic and development matters. According to Sharon, the idea is acceptable to the U.S.
Sharon pointed out that U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said earlier Sunday that "it is too early to speak about a regional peace conference," but that she did not reject the idea.
A senior U.S. official told AP the idea was discussed "as part of a way to move forward politically," but more talks were needed.
However, a senior State Department official told Time magazine several elements were under consideration by Bush administration as part of a deal to achieve a cease-fire, Israeli withdrawal and the start of political negotiations.
The official said that Powell has been pressing Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states for their ideas about a deal. The ideas include the deployment of U.S. monitors and an international fund to rebuild Palestine.
Additionally, the U.S. is leaning toward endorsing plans that would require the handover of land currently occupied by Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and would extend international recognition to an independent Palestinian state before a permanent peace is reached. "The U.S. thinks this is interesting and potentially useful," said a senior State Department official.
If these elements come together, officials say, they would probably lead to an international peace conference—involving Israeli, Palestinian and other Arab and European representatives—that would try to map out the borders and capital of the new state.
Meanwhile, during the meeting held in Tel Aviv, Powell briefed Sharon on his talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.
Powell urged Sharon to withdraw Israeli troops from Palestinian areas and expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, his spokesman said.
"Secretary of State Colin Powell had a very good and thorough discussion with Prime Minister Sharon this evening," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.
"He discussed with Prime Minister Sharon some ideas on how to achieve what Israelis and Palestinians want -- an end to the violence and moving forward on the political issues," he added in a statement describing their talks.
"He stressed our serious concerns about the humanitarian situation, particularly in Jenin," he said. "We note that Israel continues to withdraw," he said. "The secretary pressed for its completion," Boucher added. (Albawaba.com)
