U.S. calls for ceasefire

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 19. The Bush administration is carefully watching the developments in West Asia in the context of Israel's stepped up attacks on the West Bank.

Washington is also taking note of the fact that for the first time in several years, Israel has used F- 16 jets in going after specific targets.

But the Republican administration has not made up its mind if the Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, will travel to the region to meet the Palestinian leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat. Gen. Powell is due to leave next week for a trip to Africa and Europe and there is no word yet on whether there will be a West Asia stopover.

Gen. Powell has called for an immediate ceasefire and is asking world leaders to help cool the heightened atmosphere. Of concern here is not just the spiralling violence and bloodshed, but the situation getting out of hand. Gen. Powell, who spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, on Friday is said to have come away rather frustrated at the end of the conversation.

With the Hamas continuing to say that it will go after Israeli targets, the right wing Government of Mr. Sharon is equally firm that it will continue to hit Palestinian areas in response.

In continuing to express concern at the violence against Israel, the Bush administration is also agreed that the Palestinian Authority does not control the Hamas.

In New York, the Israeli pounding of Palestinian areas has evoked concern and condemnation. The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, has said that he is deeply disturbed at the ``disproportionate Israeli response'' to the suicide attack on the Israeli mall.

``While I have repeatedly made clear my utter condemnation of terrorism from whatever quarter - and do so again today - I can only regard this response as excessive and misdirected. Its effect will inevitably be to increase bitterness even further on the Palestinian side'', Mr. Annan said calling for restraint, end of violence and start of negotiations.

AFP reports:

Mr. Arafat today said the ``Palestinian people will not yield an inch.'' ``Warplanes are used against our towns (but) the Palestinian people will not yield an inch. We will take the path together until we can pray in the Al-Aqsa mosque'' in Jerusalem, he said.

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