U.S.-Palestinians hold 'constructive talks'
AMMAN, Jordan (CNN) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell met Saturday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei for what Powell described as "constructive talks" aimed at restarting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
After the hour-long meeting at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, Powell told reporters, "We hope we can get the process started again within the context of the road map."
The "road map" for Middle East peace -- backed by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- has been stalled amid terror attacks by Palestinian groups and Israeli military incursions into Palestinian areas. It outlines a series of steps aimed at establishing a Palestinian state that exists peacefully with Israel by 2005.
The Bush administration is backing a plan drawn up separately by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's which proposes a unilateral pullout of troops and Israeli settlers from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
Powell said he and Qorei discussed the pullout, including "the development of security plans" and how Palestinians would "take control of Gaza when it comes to pass."
"Time is passing," Powell said. "We have to look at the reality of the situation and ... redouble our efforts and get on with it."
But, he said, "I don't think anybody can predict right now whether we can achieve" a separate Palestinian state by 2005, as called for in the road map.
Said Qorei, "We are very pleased to talk to Secretary Powell. [We] discussed the situation about the peace process, how to revise the peace process forward. I think we had very, very constructive talks this afternoon."
Sharon's plan called for the removal of all Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza and the dismantling of four settlements and outposts in the northern West Bank by 2005. Although Sharon's Likud party rejected his disengagement plan in a nonbinding referendum this month, he has not backed off the plan.
Palestinian leaders have opposed Sharon's plan, saying that it amounts to an illegitimate land grab by Israelis and an attempt by Sharon to unilaterally set the borders between Israel and a Palestinian state, rather than negotiating them as part of a final settlement.
Israel says the barrier is a necessary step to ensure its security.
Palestinian leaders have said they are unhappy with Sharon's unilateral plan. They say they want any major steps to be determined within the context of the road map.
The four nations and groups backing the road map called Sharon's plan a "positive note" and an indication of Israel's intention to disengage from the Palestinians. But the group did not endorse the plan and called on Israel to follow through on the road map's call for a full withdrawal from Gaza.
