Washington, Aug 13: Vehemently denouncing the use of terror as a tool for achieving political objectives, US Secretary of State Colin Powell asked the Arab world not to allow the terrorists to "destroy this opportunity for peace" and warned that "Israel is not going to be destroyed". "It is time to end the use of terror as a way of achieving a political objective. It is part of the solution for the Middle East. It is also part of the global campaign against terrorism," Powell said.
He questioned the goal of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations asking if the goal was creation of a Palestinian state or destruction of Israel.
"Israel," he warned them, "is not going to be destroyed. Israel will be there. Israel is a nation that is an ally of the United States and can be a friend of other nations in the region."
Exhorting the Arab world to come together once again and understand that the United States is a partner for peace, the other members of the quartet are partners for peace, Powell said, "do not allow terrorists to destroy this opportunity for peace for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples".
He lambasted the Palestinian terrorists for making an excuse that they were retaliating against the Israeli raids and said, "These are excuses. Everybody can find an excuse for their action. And then where are we? we are nowhere. We have moved no place forward."
Bureau Report