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Powell is Now Pressing Arafat to Combat Hamas

(New York Times) Steven R. Weisman - After a year of trying to sideline Yasser Arafat, Secretary of State Powell called on the Palestinian leader to enlist the security forces under his control to help crush Hamas and other groups held responsible for the Jerusalem bus bombing on Tuesday. The unusual appeal to Mr. Arafat reflected what administration officials said was a growing realization that he remained a force to be reckoned with among Palestinians and that more pressure needed to be directed against him after the latest attack by Palestinian militants. Richard Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said it was "understandable" that Israel would now need to concentrate on security needs and suspend its plans to take conciliatory steps toward the Palestinians. Some administration officials suggested that even with Israel's action Thursday, killing a top Hamas leader, the government of Prime Minister Sharon had shown some restraint. "They've been somewhat limited in their actions, and we appreciate that," a senior official said. Before this week, the administration's view of Palestinian prime minister Abbas was that he needed a bit more time before he made widespread arrests of Hamas and other militant leaders, as demanded constantly by Israel. Accordingly, the administration had quietly acquiesced to the cease-fire that Abbas had negotiated with the militants as a means to that end. But today that view was decidedly different. "The bombing has forced Abbas to move against terrorist groups sooner than he would like," an administration official said. "He needs the additional capability that's in the hands of Arafat." This official added, however, "Israel understands that it needs to give Abbas some time and space if they want him to act."
2003-08-22 00:00:00
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