World Concern Over Mideast Situation Mounts

04/04/2002| IslamWeb

* Washington Now Ready to Discuss Politics Before Security; * EU Mideast Peace Mission in the Balance; * Arab Anger Grows Violent. ____
MADRID, WASHINGTON, CAIRO (Islamweb & News Agencies)-Israel's unjust criminal war against the Palestinians and Palestinian Resistance attacks has deepened fears of all-out war. (Read photo caption within) The new spasm of Middle East violence prompted a so-called subtle policy change in Washington, a European Union peace mission in Madrid and an announcement to suspend most contacts with Israel in Cairo.
Palestinians say the aim of the offensive is to topple Arafat and reoccupy Palestinian-ruled areas.
SUBTLE POLICY CHANGE
In Washington, Israel's main ally, the United States, signaled a policy shift by suggesting it was open to addressing political aspects of a Middle East peace deal before a truce exists on the ground -- a move that appeared designed to appeal to the Palestinians.
In what has been described in Western media as a subtle policy change, the White House indicated President Bush was open to discussing political dimensions of a peace deal before a cease-fire prevailed.
"There are two vital guidelines that the president is seeking to advance and they can work independently, they can work together," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters, referring to the security and political issues.
Under intense pressure for the administration to take a higher-profile role in Middle East peacemaking, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday he was weighing a meeting with Israeli and Arab leaders during a trip to Europe next week.
In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes II," Powell said he was reviewing what he should do.
The Bush administration has previously emphasized that the first step was for both sides to implement a security cooperation plan worked out by CIA Director George Tenet.
In New York, the U.N. Security Council met for the fourth time in six days. Palestinian diplomats, pushing for a fresh resolution, are demanding the council enforce its weekend call for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian-ruled areas.
EU PEACE MISSION
The EU agreed to send a high-level delegation to the region, probably on Thursday, as international anger and concern mounted over growing bloodshed in Israel's six-day-old offensive following a wave of Palestinian Resistance attacks.
"This is now the most dangerous conflict in the world," British Minister for Europe Peter Hain said at a rare emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Hain said the ministers would announce a mission to seek a quick end to "this senseless hostility." They were expected to send EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique to the region on Thursday.
Diplomats said the ministers would demand that Israel allow EU envoys to meet Arafat, although Sharon has said he wants to isolate the Palestinian leader.
Spain said its premier, Jose Maria Aznar, had telephoned Sharon to offer to meet him and Arafat in Jerusalem on Thursday.
The Spanish government office said in a statement the Israeli leader had eventually agreed to discuss the possibility of such a visit at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.
ISRAEL'S SECURITY CABINET
Shortly before midnight, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened the Security Cabinet, made up of his most senior ministers, to approve the next stage of the open-ended "Operation Protective Wall." Only two major West Bank towns - Hebron and Jericho - were still under Palestinian control late Wednesday.
It was not clear whether that meeting would discuss the EU proposal.
ARAB ANGER
Daily anti-Israeli protests in the Arab world grew more violent. Thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians clashed with security forces Wednesday outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, with at least 25 reported injured as protesters threw stones and security forces used tear gas and water cannons.
Under pressure to cut off ties completely with Israel, Egypt took a more limited step Wednesday, announcing it would suspend all diplomatic contacts with Israel except those aimed at helping the Palestinians.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique (C) holds a joint news conference with European Commission President Romano Prodi (R) and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana (L) at the end of a special European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, April 3, 2002. European Union foreign ministers planned to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
- Apr 03 12:21 AM ET