News Powell repeats call for Israeli withdrawal

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U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell repeated U.S. calls for Israel to withdraw its troops from Palestinian-held areas of the West Bank on Oct. 24.

The Israeli incursions were in retaliation for the Oct. 17 assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister. Altogether, 32 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed during the incursions.

Powell said that Israel's actions contributed to a cycle of violence that was hurting hopes for peace-making. "Things are getting worse," he said.

But Powell also said he understood Israel's security concerns and "justification" for sending the troops.

U.S. President George W. Bush called on the Israelis Oct. 23 to leave Palestinian territory "as quickly as possible." His comments came after the U.S. State Department demanded that the Israelis exit "immediately."

"We have differences from time to time," Powell said of the Bush administration's dealings with its firmest ally in the Middle East.

Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat has charged that the Israelis were ignoring U.S. requests.

"This Israeli position is a very dangerous one," Arafat said Oct 23.

米、イスラエルの撤兵を要求

パウエル米国務長官はイスラエルに、侵攻したヨルダン側西岸の町から撤退するよう要請した。

Shukan ST: Nov. 2, 2001

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