Sharon, Bush to meet Tuesday

Powell, right, and Sharon shake hands before their meeting at Blair House in Washington

By CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott

WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, under pressure from U.S. officials to ease restrictions on Palestinians, meets U.S. President George W. Bush today. The White House meeting comes one day after Sharon accused the Palestinian Authority of "deepening its involvement in incitement, violence and terror."

"Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority are returning to the belief that they can defeat Israel by means of armed struggle," Sharon said in a speech before a pro-Israeli group Monday night. "Arafat is willing to destabilize the entire Middle East, including moderate Arab regimes, in order to achieve his goals," Sharon said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Israel. In a speech before the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, Powell also called the continuing violence in the region "a dead end."

VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports on the U.S. visit of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Ariel Sharon: Arafat must understand he will gain nothing from violence 279K/25 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Sharon is confident that Bush agrees there should be no talks while violence continues 463K/43 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  • Bombings  • Activist deaths    RESOURCES Timeline gallery: Israeli leader Ariel Sharon

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"Leaders have the responsibility to denounce violence, strip it of legitimacy, stop it," he said in what appeared to be a message to Arafat. During his address before AIPAC, Powell reaffirmed a pledge he made 10 years ago to the group as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, repeating that there is "no question that America will stand by Israel."

He said the Bush administration was dedicated to preserving the security relationship with Israel, in order for Israel to remain competitive against its Arab neighbors.

"We recognize that Israel lives in a very dangerous neighborhood, so we will work, we will look for ways to strengthen and expand our valuable strategic cooperation with Israel, so that we can help preserve qualitative military edge," he said, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.

His comments came on the heels of increased violence in the region.

An Israeli man was found dead Monday near the northern border, while another motorist was killed in a drive-by shooting. On Sunday, Palestinian extremists in Gaza fired mortar bombs into Israel, wounding an Israeli soldier.

"The status quo is costly," Powell said. But he added that if peacemaking efforts were to drift it would "only lead to greater tragedy."

"Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are served by the current situation," he said, insisting both parties need a "dialogue that will lead to mutually acceptable political economic and security arrangements, be they transitional or permanent, partial or whole."

But Powell promised the United States was ready to "assist, not insist" as a mediator between the parties and would not "strive for some arbitrary measure of even-handedness when responsibility is not evenly shared."

Sharon has advocated a more limited agreement with the Palestinians than one pushed by his predecessor, Ehud Barak. The current Israeli government is leaving so-called "permanent status issues," such as the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees, for future negotiations.

One Israeli official said Sharon will argue to Bush that such negotiations with the Palestinians can only take place after the violence ends and then only "incrementally, as each side takes confidence-building measures that rebuild trust."

In his speech Monday, Powell spoke of the importance of restoring "normal economic life" to the Palestinian territories.

But Israeli officials said they are waiting for Arafat to call on groups under his command to stop their involvement in terrorist acts before Israel would ease the blockades of the Palestinian territories and assist the crumbling Palestinian economy by paying taxes Israel owes.

"Even as we loosen the closures in the Palestinian territories over the last few days, Arafat's behavior is getting worse," one Israeli official said, adding there is "growing concern" that Arafat wants to escalate the violence in advance of an Arab summit taking place at the end of the month in Amman, Jordan.

Aboard his plane en route to the United States, Sharon told reporters, "An attempt to achieve a diplomatic arrangement can be done only when there will be quiet."

"I want to conduct negotiations, and it's possible," he said. "But we can't when there is terror."

Sharon said he would exercise a limited amount of "patience" to allow the Palestinians time to organize against terror before escalating an Israeli crackdown against violence.

Sharon in U.S. for talks with Bush
March 19, 2001
Sharon seeks Bush approval for measured moves with Palestinians
March 18, 2001
Sharon prepares for U.S. visit
March 17, 2001
Palestinians press for U.N. security force
March 16, 2001

Palestinian National Authority
Israeli Prime Minister's Office

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