A senior administration official told The Associated Press that Powell intends to warn Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat the United States is prepared to sever ties with him unless he renounces terrorism. "The message is: This is it. Last chance," said the official, who cautioned that Powell and US President George W. Bush will not finalize the message for Arafat until the meeting draws closer. Powell landed late last night, and is scheduled to meet this morning with Sharon, and then later separately with Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, and President Moshe Katsav. A joint Powell-Sharon press conference is slated after the two men meet.
Yeah, yeah. "This is the last time I'm tellin' you... This is really it... I'm warning you, you're gonna get it..." The last "last warning" should have been the last.
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said U.S. officials informed the Palestinians the meeting was being postponed, possibly to Sunday. Word of the postponement came several hours after a Palestinian woman blew herself up in a crowded outdoor market in Jerusalem, killing six shoppers and wounding dozens. A militia linked to Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility.
Wonder if the meeting will actually take place? I'd expect another boomer tomorrow... Yasser doesn't want to hear the harsh words he knows are coming, and Powell probably doesn't really want to waste his time. |