Diplomatic efforts, anger build over Mideast crisis

Powell, right with Jordan's FM Marwan Muasher

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bullets and missiles continued to fly Friday in the Middle East as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell prepared to head to the region to meet with leaders "representing all points of views."

Powell called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities and said he hopes "the tragic situation we are seeing in the region on our television sets every day now will soon be brought to an end."

The White House said Powell had no plans to meet with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. But when asked later, Powell said his itinerary was still being worked out and he did not rule out meeting Arafat.

"No plans at this time, simply because there are no plans at this time -- not that there won't be plans in due course," Powell said.

Asked later if there if there is any difference of opinion between Powell and the White House regarding a meeting with Arafat, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said, "[The president] has given [Powell] maximum flexibility, so he has maximum influence."

CNN NewsPass VIDEO As U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell prepares for a mideast trip. CNN's Andrea Koppel reports (April 5) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Bush's decision to dispatch Powell     IN-DEPTH  CNN NewsPass Video    •  Palestinian politics  MORE STORIES   •  IDF: Arms workshops destroyed in Rafah  EXTRA INFORMATION   •  Gallery: Palestinian fatalities  RESOURCES   •  Victims of terror   •  TIME.com: Orchestrating a common ground

Fleischer was also asked if the White House no longer believes Arafat should have a place at the peace table. He answered that anyone who is "committed" in "deeds and not just words" has a seat at the table. (Bush: Arafat 'hasn't earned' U.S. trust)

The White House refused to criticize Israel as the country expanded its military incursions into Palestinian areas Friday, one day after Bush called for Israel to halt the offensive and begin to withdraw.

When asked about Israel's activities, Fleischer said, "The president expects results, and he expects them as soon as possible."

Powell also indicated that his waiting a few days to go to the region -- rather than going immediately -- should not be interpreted as a green light for Israel to continue its military operation.

The Israeli military operations in the West Bank began during a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings, the first of which occurred last week at a hotel in Netanya on the first day of Passover.

Israeli authorities announced Friday they had killed the man it says was behind the Passover attack. (More on Israeli military operation)

Zinni-Arafat meeting termed 'difficult'

Earlier Friday in Ramallah, U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni persuaded Arafat to form a committee of senior aides who will work with him on a way out of the current crisis, Palestinian sources said.

The Ramallah agreement to form the committee came as Zinni met for about an hour with Arafat at the headquarters where he has been isolated since an Israeli military operation began a week ago.

According to a high-ranking Palestinian official, Arafat said to Zinni that he appreciates the American initiative in the region and contended that Israel is not committed to it because it is continuing its offensive and occupation and not pursuing an immediate withdrawal from the region. Another high-ranking official called the Arafat-Zinni meeting "difficult."

The source said Zinni has asked for a Palestinian committee to meet with him. The committee will include chief negotiator Saeb Erakat; the head of preventative security in Gaza, Mohammad Dahlan; and Amin Al-Hindi, the Palestinian chief of intelligence.

But a complication may have arisen: A Palestinian source said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected Zinni's proposal to meet with the Palestinian delegation Friday evening and has rejected the idea of Arafat meeting with the committee afterward.

The Zinni-Arafat meeting came a day after the U.N. Security Council unanimously called for an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian-controlled cities in the West Bank "without delay."

Journalists who had gathered to await Zinni's arrival at Arafat's compound, said Israeli troops threw stun grenades at them. There were no injuries, and the journalists were then ordered to leave. (Full story)

Arab anger 'spilling over to affect the whole world'

Powell spoke to reporters after meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher. The minister was expected to deliver a letter from Jordan's King Abdullah to Bush.

The letter urges Bush to "take immediate steps" to help the Israelis and Palestinians move toward a cease-fire, according to a senior Arab official.

The king also tells Bush that Arab anger on the streets is "spilling over to affect the whole world and it's affecting our interests," the official said.

In Manama, Bahrain, police clashed Friday with thousands of demonstrators who had gathered outside the U.S. Embassy to protest U.S. and Israeli actions in the Mideast.

A melee ensued. Demonstration organizers and police "tried to keep things under control and then they dealt with them with tear gas," a government official said. The Persian Gulf Arab island state is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. (Full story)

In Istanbul, Turkey, nearly 4,000 demonstrators gathered outside a mosque Friday to show their support for Palestinians. Police dispersed the crowd with tear gas and detained a large number of protesters. Officials could not confirm exactly how many were taken into police custody.

Pro-Arab protesters also gathered near Times Square in New York on Friday evening, chanting anti-Israeli slogans.

The Security Council's Mideast resolution follows an earlier call on Israel to end its incursion into six West Bank cities, including Hebron, Bethlehem and Ramallah -- where Israeli tanks and troops have besieged Arafat since March 29.

On Thursday evening, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council before voting on a Mideast referendum that Israel's recent actions "do not bode well for stabilizing the situation and renewing political talks." He criticized Arafat for failing to take action against terrorism but warned Israel that "self-defense is not a blank check."

"It would be a miscalculation of monumental proportions to believe that removing Chairman Arafat from the political scene and dismantling the Palestinian Authority would create conditions where Israel can achieve security for itself," he said.

As for the Palestinians, Annan said, "The Palestinian Authority seems to believe that failing to act against terrorism, and inducing turmoil, chaos and instability, will cause the government and people of Israel to buckle. They will not."