Secretary of State Colin L. Powell put the onus for the failure of a U.S.-backed Middle East peace plan on the Palestinian Authority yesterday, signaling growing frustration with the new Palestinian government and significant support for the Israeli position in this presidential election year. “What we need is, I believe, more responsible action on the part of the Palestinian Authority in order to bring terrorism under control, make sure that violence is being brought to an end,” Powell said in a rare, wide-ranging news conference. Only then, he said, can progress be made on the “road map” plan. Powell addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict four times in the news conference, but he offered no criticism of Israel and did not lay out a plan for greater U.S. involvement. He brushed aside the concerns raised by Palestinians that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has threatened to take unilateral steps that would prevent the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Full Story
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