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Explosion derails peace process

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JANINE ZACHARIA, LAMIA LAHOUD, and TOVAH LAZAROFF Jan. 30, 2004

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American efforts to revive the flailing peace process were derailed by Thursday's bus bombing in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's response was to cancel the scheduled talks with the Palestinian Authority and the US.

"On a day like today, when there is such a terrible attack, it is not the time to have a discussion as if nothing had happened," Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told reporters in Jerusalem.

The bomber struck as US envoys David Satterfield and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs John Wolf were here on a rare visit attempting to revive the dormant US road map for peace.

Skepticism about prospects for progress in negotiations, coupled with the administration's focus on Iraq, have kept US negotiation efforts at a minimum, until this week.

The two envoys had met with Israelis seeking to ease restrictions on the Palestinians and with PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, asking that he meet with Sharon, which he has refused to do for three months.

PA Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat regretted that the trilateral meeting was cancelled and called for resuming negotiations to end the violence.
Separately, Qurei said Wednesday he would meet Sharon without preconditions.

But Hassan Abu Libdi, Qurei's bureau chief, denied that he made such a request. "We never set any precondition for a summit; all we wanted was a meeting that would lead to results," he told The Jerusalem Post.

Wolf and Satterfield were also trying to arrange a cease-fire, a move Shalom had opposed.

The Foreign Ministry said it is willing to talk with Qurei and other Palestinians, but not on the day when the country was burying its dead.

"You have to remember that speaking isn't enough, the PA has to take upon itself the responsibility of dismantling terrorism. On this issue, there is no difference among Abu Ala [Qurei], Abu Mazen [former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas], and [Chairman Yasser] Arafat," Shalom said.

He noted the PA had already agreed to do so, but has yet to make good on its word. Dismantling terrorist organizations is one of their basic requirements under the road map, Shalom said.
Wolf left Thursday night and Satterfield is due to leave Sunday. No new date was set for the trilateral talks.

The US and Britain condemned the attack. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called Shalom, as did Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also sent a message to Qurei to stop terrorism.

US officials told him that statements are inadequate, and that the PA should fulfill its commitments in the areas of security and reform, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Speaking after a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Powell said, "Once again, terrorists have killed innocent people and at the same time they have struck a blow, once more, against the aspirations of the Palestinian people to have a homeland of their own.

"This kind of action has got to stop. And I once again implore the Palestinian leaders, and especially Prime Minister Abu Ala, to do everything in his power, everything in their power, to ostracize these terrorists, to go after them, and to deal with this terrorist activity, because as long as it continues, the hope of both peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, for peace will constantly be dashed."

Powell said that goal could not be achieved if terrorism continues.

"The longer time goes by without progress because... the parties can't get moving because of this terrorist activity, the more difficult it will be to achieve the goals laid out in the road map with respect to a timetable," he said. "And so I condemn the action of these terrorist organizations and these horrible people who would do this on a civilian bus in the middle of the day."

The White House issued a similar condemnation.