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Powell Says US Will Stay Involved in Mideast
US Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged Monday the United States will stay involved in the Middle East and will "assist, not insist" the peace between Israel and Palestine.
Speaking at the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, Powell presented some basic ideas that will guide the approach of the United States under the Bush administration as it approaches the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute in the future.
"First and foremost, the violence must stop," Powell said. " Leaders have the responsibility to denounce violence, strip it of legitimacy, stop it. Violence is a dead end."
"Second, the status quo is costly, and if allowed to drift will only lead to greater tragedy. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are served by the current situation. Both sides require a dialogue that will lead to mutually-acceptable political, economic and security arrangements," Powell said.
"Third, the parties themselves hold the keys to their own futures. Peace will only be at hand when leaders have the courage and the vision to make difficult decisions and defend them to their own publics," he said.
"Unilateral action, assured to provoke the other side, should be avoided. Turning to the United States or other outside parties to pressure one or another party or to impose a settlement is not the answer," he added.
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