USA: US. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL TELLS ISRAEL IT SHOULD WITHDRAW ITS MILITARY FORCES FROM PALESTINIAN AREAS "WITHOUT DELAY"

Record ID: 222935

  • Title: USA: US. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL TELLS ISRAEL IT SHOULD WITHDRAW ITS MILITARY FORCES FROM PALESTINIAN AREAS "WITHOUT DELAY"
  • Date: 5th April 2002
  • Summary: WASHINGTON DC , UNITED STATES (APRIL 5, 2002) (POOL - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV: U.S SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARWAN AL-MUASHER 0.05 2. SV: CUTAWAY TO MEDIA 0.09 3. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) ( English) POWELL SAYING: "I think that the President's statement yesterday was rather clear and the interpretation was further reinforced by the UN resolution last night-- that the President expects that the incursions will stop and the withdrawal process will begin as soon as possible or without delay. Whichever formulation you choose and it is not related to my trip. As soon as possible without delay that the Presidents expectations." 0.41 4. MV: CUTAWAY TO MEDIA 0.44 5. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) ( English) POWELL SAYING: "My itinerary is still being looked at by my staff and the places I am going visit, and I think what Ari meant to say -- and quite sure what he had said because he said it yesterday as well is 'no plans at this time', simply because there are no plans at this time, not that there will not be plans in due course. I planned to meet with as many leaders as I can in the region reflecting all and representing all the points of view and the parties in the region." 1.13 6. PAN FROM PRO PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS TO POLICE OUTSIDE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 1.20 7. PAN FROM AMERICAN AND IRISH FLAGS TO DEMONSTRATORS 1.30 8. CU: WOMAN HOLDING SIGN READING 'SUICIDE BOMBERS IS POOR MAN F-16' 1.36 9. SV: WOMAN CRYING 1.42 10. SV: MAN ARRESTED 1.54 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th April 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAANS0KH2HE57NVC96ZQRS0LYL6
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Israel it
    should withdraw military forces from Palestinian areas
    "without delay" and not use the days before his trip to
    continue incursions that have fed an explosion of violence.



    Against a backdrop of a continued Israeli army
    onslaught, Powell told reporters President George W. Bush's
    "expectation is that the incursions will stop and a withdrawal
    process will begin as soon as possible or without delay --
    whichever formulation you would choose."
    "It's not related to my trip (which begins Sunday but
    should happen) as soon as possible, without delay and that's
    the president's expectation," Powell said after a meeting with
    Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan al-Muasher.

    Powell also remarked on a White House statement earlier
    in the day that said he may not meet Palestinian President
    Yasser Arafat on his upcoming Middle East tour.

    "what....he had said is 'no plans at this time', simply
    because there are no plans at this time, not that there will
    not be plans in due course." said Powell
    Earlier in the day outside the State department, pro-
    Palestinian demonstrators called on the U.S to force Israel
    out of the west bank. Holding signs reading 'suicide bombers
    is a poor man's F-16' the demonstrators accused the United
    States of being an unfair broker in Middle East peace. Several
    were arrested when they approached the doors to the building.

    Powell is scheduled to leave on Sunday night on a
    trip ordered by Bush to revive efforts to arrange a cease-fire
    between Israel and the Palestinians after a wave of
    Palestinian suicide bombings and large-scale Israeli military
    movements into the West Bank.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register