Rice Urges Leaders to Pressure Arafat

Date: Mon, Oct 25, 2004

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Foreign leaders who still talk to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) must pressure him to step aside, now that Israeli leaders are pushing a plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said Monday.

Rice, who has planned speeches in several states considered battlegrounds in the presidential race, said there has to be a discussion with Arafat "to say, 'All right, land is now being returned to the Palestinian people. ... You said that's what you wanted all these years. Now is time to step aside."

The conversation must be conducted by "by those who still talk to him ... we're not among those," Rice added.

The Israeli parliament on Monday began a two-day debate on whether to approve a plan pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) to withdraw from Gaza.

Palestinians fear Sharon will use the withdrawal to blunt international criticism and strengthen Israel's hold over large parts of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, lands the Palestinians claim for a state.

Rice said if Arafat resigns, an independent prime minister can take power and restructure the Palestinian security forces.

"Right now, the Palestinian security forces are not only corrupt and ... unable to participate in security on behalf of Israel, they're having trouble participating in security on behalf of the Palestinian people," Rice said.

Democrats have criticized Rice for the speeches, saying they appear political.

But an AIPAC spokesman said Rice was scheduled to address the group months in advance and her presence had nothing to do with politics. Other speakers during the two-day conference included Richard Holbrooke, the U.N. ambassador under President Clinton (news - web sites), and several U.S. lawmakers from both parties.

In the wide-ranging talk, Rice also said the world community can work diplomatically to neutralize the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, but she added the problem likely will have to be referred to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

SOURCE

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