Powell says he will meet with Arafat

Powell: "I am ... putting together a consensus ...."

CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday he plans to meet this week with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the first time he has said he would meet with the embattled leader since embarking on a quest to bring a cease-fire to the Middle East.

Powell had said previously he would meet with Arafat if "circumstances permitted."

Powell will meet Wednesday with European and Russian colleagues and with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Spain before heading to Israel late Thursday.

"What I am doing this week and in these other meetings is putting together a consensus among all the nations that have an interest in this, all the members of the international community, so that I can go to Jerusalem with a powerful message both for the [Israeli] Prime Minister Sharon and a message also to Chairman Arafat," Powell said.

During a joint news conference with Powell in Cairo Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said the Israeli military operation would not lead to peace.

"Security cannot be achieved through force -- through the use of force -- but through the creation of the an environment that is helpful to create confidence between the parties," said Ahmed.

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Israel has refused to bow to international pressure to end its military incursions, prompting calls from President Bush for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank.

Israel, Sharon said Tuesday, is in a fight "for survival of the Jewish people" and he vowed to press on with the campaign in the West Bank until Palestinian militias are defeated.

Sharon's comments underscored the deadliest day of fighting for the Israeli army since it began its campaign last month in the wake of suicide bombings during Passover.

Thirteen Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in Jenin that involved booby-trap explosives, a suicide bomber and Palestinian gunmen firing from windows and rooftops, the Israel Defense Forces reported.

Arab League applauds Powell visit

Powell denied he was taking a circuitous route to Jerusalem to give Israel more time to end its incursions into Palestinian areas.

Powell said he has conveyed Bush's message that Israel should withdraw now, adding that he repeated that message during phone calls to Sharon.

"My presence in Jerusalem is not necessary for them to understand that message," Powell said.

Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, told CNN that Powell's trip would have a huge impact on the peace efforts.

"We are ready to cooperate with Mr. Powell," he said. "Mr. Powell has credibility. He has a credibility with us."

The United States is becoming more aggressive in calling for the Israeli withdrawals because of how that could affect the rest of the world, Powell said.

"We believe that the effect of the incursion throughout the Arab world and throughout the rest of the world is very negative with respect to Israel's long-term interest and in terms of Israel's relations with its neighbors and in terms of the United States' long-term interest in the regions -- and, frankly, the world's interest in the region," Powell said.

One sign of negative reaction surfaced Tuesday in Amman, Jordan, where Queen Rania Al-Abdullah marched with protesters demonstrating against the Israeli military operation.

The incursions are "a clear and flagrant violation of international conventions and U.N. resolutions regarding human rights," she said.

Egypt, which became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, also faces unrest, prompting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to end most official contact with the Jewish state.

Cause for optimism?

There are hints that a cease-fire could be achieved, U.S. officials said, citing Israel's sudden decision Tuesday to allow Arafat's deputies to see him in Ramallah this week as an encouraging sign that the violence could lessen.

Israelis said the aides could see Arafat once the aides met with U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni. The Palestinians responded by saying they needed to meet with Arafat first because they have not talked with him in days.

Arafat has been sequestered in his Ramallah headquarters since the beginning of the Israeli military operation March 29.

The aides expected to meet with Arafat Wednesday are chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qorei, top PLO official Mahmoud Abbas, and Muhammed Dahlan, head of Palestinian security in Gaza.

After that session, Erakat said, Palestinians were to meet with Zinni. After that, he said they hope to meet with Arafat again.