http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139194,00.html
Palestinians Look to Americans to Secure Elections
Sunday, November 21, 2004
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns met Sunday with Israel's national security adviser then traveled to the West Bank (search) city of Ramallah to hold talks with Palestinian leaders in the first visit of a senior U.S. official to the Palestinian areas in months.
Burns was laying the ground for the arrival later in the day of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (search). The visits signified a renewed American interest in the region following Arafat's death and a hope for a renewal of the peace process.
"We all know that there are many challenges and obstacles on the road ahead but the U.S. is determined to do everything we can to help," Burns said following a meeting with interim Palestinian President Rauhi Fattouh.
Burns said Israel needs to help facilitate the Palestinian elections to be held Jan. 9, but he did not elaborate on what those steps would be.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians want the Americans to pressure Israel to remove troops from areas they have taken over during the fighting to ensure Palestinians are not intimidated during the elections.
The Palestinians area also trying — through the Americans — to work out a meeting with the Israelis to work out arrangements for the elections, he said.
"We are expressing a readiness to meet with the Israeli side in order to coordinate with them immediately the administrative and security arrangements," Erekat said.
The Palestinian Authority was trying to rebuild security forces and prevent a flare- up in violence before the first presidential vote in the Palestinian areas since 1996. Palestinian officials have warned that armed gangs could foment chaos in an attempt to disrupt the elections.
Israel has stated an interest in ensuring smooth elections but officials have not yet committed to pull back troops from Palestinian communities for the vote.
The Palestinians also want the Americans to iron out a smooth renewal of the peace process as outlined in the U.S.-backed "road map" plan, but insist that a Palestinian state be established in 2005, and not by the end of Bush's term as he stipulated.
The Palestinians were also hoping for financial assistance from the Americans.
The international community was also hoping for a new opportunity for peace in the region, with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw visiting the region this week and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos expected Dec. 2.
In violence Sunday, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian militant who tried to attack a Gaza road frequented by Jewish settlers, the Israeli army and Islamic Jihad said.
The army confirmed it killed one militant during the incident, which occurred in an off-limits area not far from a crossing point into Israel. It said soldiers chased after another armed man, but Islamic Jihad said he escaped unarmed.
The Islamic Jihad confirmed in a statement one of its men was killed in the incident.
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