Jericho: US Secretary of State Powell holds talks with Palestinian PM

Powell said in the joint press conference after the talks with Abbas that the time was ripe for immediate implementation of the so-called roadmap for peace in the Middle East. "There are still comments to be received by the Israeli side. But there is sufficient goodwill, sufficient commitment that we can get started now," Powell stated. Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas warned against a selective approach to the roadmap for peace and urged Israel to accept it. "The roadmap should not be dealt with in a selective way, or by separating all its components from each other because we have seen how many previous plans have ended as a result of that," Abbas said. He demanded that Israel release Palestinian prisoners and lift the measures against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The Palestinians have accepted the three-phase plan aimed at ending violence, resuming talks and creating a Palestinian state within three years, but Israel has listed 15 reservations and has not officially accepted the blueprint. Powell said following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
that he was pleased with Israel’s steps towards peace with the Palestinians. "The steps that the prime minister mentioned to me are very promising and very helpful and show Israel’s commitment to begin this process and not lose this moment of opportunity," Powell told.