Powell backs plan for Middle East peace monitors

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today called on Israel and the Palestinians to move promptly to take confidence–building measures and endorsed a proposal by Yasser Arafat for outside monitors to supervise the fragile cease–fire.

Mr Powell said the monitors would go to points of friction between the Palestinians and Israelis and serve as go–betweens, but said he had not decided on the composition of such a force.

He conferred with Mr Arafat in the Palestinian leader's office for about three hours before driving back to Jerusalem for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Mr Arafat said the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and others should provide the observers, but Mr Powell made no commitment on using Americans for such a mission.

He said it was clear, though, that the parties would need to "move ahead to rebuild confidence and trust."

Mr Sharon has proposed a period of complete quiet before a six–week cooling–off period proposed in a report by international fact–finders kicks in.

Mr Powell appeared determined to accelerate the process. "We cannot allow transition from one phase to another to be a stumbling block," he said.

He said he was looking to Mr Sharon to help set a timeline for implementing the report by the commission, headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

Mr Arafat, switching from Arabic to English, issued a scorching indictment of Jewish settlers on the West Bank and in Gaza.

"Our people are suffering from their crimes," he said, adding that some settlers operate under the protection of the Israeli army.

He underscored the commission's call for a freeze on further construction in these settlements. "No one house can be added," he said.

Mr Powell, who on his first trip here in February demanded Israel lift the siege of the Palestinians, said he was very mindful of the different conditions people have been living under.

He urged the Israelis to make it easier for Palestinians to get to and from their jobs in Israel and thanked Arafat for a commitment to do everything possible to end the violence.

Before meeting with Arafat, Mr Powell spent time with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. At a joint news conference with Mr Peres, Mr Powell said he wanted to move quickly, but he also has said on his three–day Mideast trip that the timing was up to the two parties.