Powell Wins Israeli Vow to Ensure Palestinian Vote

[Rhiannon12866]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Reviving a long-dormant U.S. peacemaking role, Secretary of State Colin Powell won an Israeli pledge on Monday to allow Palestinians freedom of movement to enable them to hold an election for Yasser Arafat's successor.

Powell, on his first visit to the region in 18 months, voiced confidence Israel would help facilitate the vote, but Israeli leaders made no public commitment to pull back troops from West Bank cities as the Palestinians have demanded.

No breakthroughs were expected in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as Powell, who announced his resignation last week, is now seen by both sides as a lame duck with little clout in future U.S. policy.

Despite that, Powell's mission was intended to give substance to President Bush's pledge for a new push for peace while Palestinians prepare to elect a successor to Arafat, who died on Nov. 11. Washington had shunned Arafat as an "obstacle to peace."

"This is a moment of opportunity as we look forward to the Palestinian elections that will be held on the ninth of January," Powell said before talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem.

"We will do everything that we can, working together, to see that these elections are held in a peaceful way and give the Palestinian people new opportunity to move forward," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6884263&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news

[russian33]

1. So, to summarize..

..a SoS who has resigned and has almost 0 credibility around the world, have gotten one country to allow another country to have elections....

Wow, now there's some diplomacy for you!

[Rhiannon12866]

3. The point is, Powell does have credibility throughout the world.

It's only here that he has none, thanks to Bush*, sidelining him. I'm glad to see him finally taking some action, though it's too little, too late.

[flordehinojos]

2. It is still slavery when Palestinian elections depend on the vow of the

Israelis... would that be equal to saying that The Chilean president got the vow of George W. Bush to let Fidel Castro Cubans inside Cuba have elections?

And who believes Powell, the Israelis or Bush these days?

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Well, it's just fact that the Palestinians need the cooperation of

the Israelis to hold elections. Those in East Jerusalem should be able to vote, but they can't do this without Israeli approval, since East Jerusalem has been held by the Israelis since the Six Day War in 1967. They all need to cooperate to ensure a safe and complete vote. As for who believes Powell? I'd guess he has more credibility on the world stage, as he should, than in the Bush* administration.

[Djinn]

5. I wouldn't mind betting Powell has LESS credibility

atleast the rest of the neo-con admin actually believe in what they're diong - POwell knew Iraq was a BAD mistake and knew the "evidence" was bullshit - he still stood there in front of the UN and supoprted it.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I know. What he did before the U.N. still baffles me.

He was urging diplomacy, so his U.N. appearance made no sense to me. This is the moment that he lost his credibility. I don't believe that Powell knew that he was armed with lies. I think that he was used. That he stayed on as long as he did is a lesson in courage. Despite his U.N. appearance, he still has more credibility in the world than any other member of this whole corrupt administration. His leaving is a loss, both in our standing in the world, but for us, since he was the one dissenting voice, and we've now lost that. I, for one, am very afraid of what's to come.:scared: