US Welcomes Arafat's Speech, Urges Actions

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 18, 2001

US Welcomes Arafat's Speech, Urges Actions

The United States on Monday welcomed an appeal made by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for a halt to attacks against Israelis, urging him to back his words with actions.

The United States on Monday welcomed an appeal made by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for a halt to attacks against Israelis, urging him to back his words with actions.

"We welcomed Chairman Arafat's speech but we also made the point that action has now to be taken. We have to see action," Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters after a meeting with visiting Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz.

He said Washington continued to believe in the vision of Middle East peace which he outlined in a speech in Louisville, Kentucky, last month, including a Palestinian state alongside with Israel and an end to all Jewish settlement activity.

"If Mr. Arafat takes the action outlined in his speech, implied by his speech, then we will all be in a better position to get this process moving and I'm quite confident that the Israeli side would respond in a way that would be positive," the secretary said.

Addressing a regular news briefing on Monday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer described Arafat's remarks as " constructive," but noted that "even more important are whether those words turn into concrete acts, and that is what the president (George W. Bush) is waiting to see and that is what the president will measure."

Fleischer said the U.S. still has doubts over whether Arafat can stop Palestinians from launching attacks on Israelis.

In a televised speech on Sunday, Arafat appealed for a halt to all armed activities against Israelis, including suicide bombings. He also lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for waging what he called a "brutal war" against people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Continuing military strikes against Palestinian targets, Israeli troops on Monday reportedly shot dead three Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy.

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