Powell says he's promoted 'clear vision' of peace

Powell has returned to the United States after a 10-day Middle East mission.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived back in Washington early Thursday after a trip to the Middle East that he said had raised "a clear vision" of peace -- a goal that can be achieved only by the combatants themselves.

On leaving Wednesday, Powell said it is now time for the Palestinians to act on their denunciations of terror and for Israel to complete its withdrawals.

A few hours later, in a speech in Lexington, Virginia, President Bush backed up Powell's demands, and said "he returns home having made progress toward peace."

"The Palestinian Authority must act on its words of condemnation against terror. Israel must continue its withdrawals. And all Arab states must step up to their responsibilities," Bush said. (Full story)

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There had been tremendous speculation over what results the secretary would be able to claim after his 10-day mission aimed at stemming the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. In remarks to reporters, the secretary indicated that what he had done was to put both sides on the alert that a change must come.

"In my meetings with Chairman Arafat, I made it clear that he and the Palestinian Authority can no longer equivocate," Powell said. "They must decide, as the rest of the world has decided, that terrorism must end. Chairman Arafat must take that message to his people."

Powell said the United States has an "unshakable" commitment to Israel's security, but said the Israeli incursion into the West Bank would have to end before "a cease-fire can be achieved in reality as well as rhetoric." Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had promised "real results in the next few days," he said

He added that Israel should decide "whether the time has come.. to look beyond the destructive impact of settlements and occupation, both of which must end, consistent with the clear positions taken by President Bush." (Transcript of Powell's speech)

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday it has detained more than 4,200 Palestinians -- including nearly 400 people on its wanted list -- since "Operation Defensive Shield" was launched about three weeks ago.

Bethlehem mayor appeals to pope

A three-part "comprehensive strategy" is needed to solve the Middle East crisis, Powell said. It includes security and freedom from terror and violence for Israelis and Palestinians; serious and accelerated negotiations; and economic and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.

The secretary said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns will remain in the region and U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni will return. Powell said he also would come back, but gave no timetable. A senior U.S. official said Powell planned to return to the region next month.

The United States will resume security contacts with the Palestinian Authority to "restore effective security cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians," Powell said. Bush was willing to send CIA Director George Tenet to the region to work with both sides on the issue, he added.

The secretary said the United States also is attempting to find a settlement at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where about 200 Palestinians, about 30 of them people Israel accuses of terrorism, are holed up.

Bethlehem's mayor said Wednesday he would like Pope John Paul II to visit the church in an effort to end the three-week-old standoff. (Full story)

At the United Nations, the Palestinian delegation to the U.N. is demanding a vote on a resolution that seeks an end to the Israeli encirclement of Arafat's Ramallah compound and of the Church of the Nativity. It also seeks a U.N. investigation of what happened in Jenin. (Full story)

Arafat defiant after Powell meeting

After meeting with Powell, Arafat charged that Israel has not truly withdrawn from West Bank cities like Tulkarem and Qalqilya. Arafat also said Israeli forces had come back to Tulkarem on Tuesday. He demanded the international community end his isolation.

Powell stood silently in a doorway with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, who later said Sharon had ''scuttled'' Powell's trip. Behind them, in a darkened hallway, stood Arafat. Reporters said they heard him ask, "Is it acceptable that I can't go out of the door?"

The U.S. delegation has tried to secure a cease-fire commitment from Arafat and the surrender of men in his besieged compound. Israel says they are behind the assassination last October of Israeli Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evi.

Israel also wants Arafat to hand over Fouad Shobaki, a top Palestinian official the Israelis believe is responsible for the attempted smuggling of weapons on the ship Karine-A earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said Wednesday that "no more than 45" Palestinians died in fighting at the refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin. Palestinian officials have charged that Israeli troops killed more than 500 Palestinians at the camp and buried many of them in mass graves.

"We never massacred people," Ben-Eliezer said in an interview with CNN. He defended the conduct of his country's armed forces in Jenin, which he called the "capital of the terror." (Full story)