1. EUROPE, ISRAEL CLASH ON PEACE PROCESS…Europe will play a role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with or without Jerusalem’s blessing, the European Union’s head of foreign policy Javier Solana told Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday. Reports suggest there was tough talking between the two, with Sharon expressing disappointment at Europe voting against Israel at the United Nations earlier this week with regard to the security barrier. Following the vote Israel has suggested Europe will not be welcome at any future negotiations with the Palestinians.
2. STATE DEPARTMENT: NO PEACE CONFERENCE ON CARDS…The U.S. State Department says there are no plans for an international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict right now. “As far as we know, these things are inaccurate,” department Spokesman Richard Boucher said. “There are various ideas around about how nations can cooperate and support real progress on the ground through the — to the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and some of the settlements on the West Bank. The effort is to really talk in very concrete terms to neighbors, other countries and governments about how we can make sure that the opportunity here is used to full advantage to make progress on the larger issues.
3. POWELL: LET PALESTINIANS SORT OUT THEIR OWN CRISIS…The leadership crisis that is threatening to spilt the Palestinian Authority in two should be left for the Palestinians to end on their own, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters on Thursday. He was speaking after a week of kidnappings, resignations, firings and mass demonstrations in the Gaza Strip, which is now threatening to spill over into the West Bank. There is anger with the Palestinian leader, Yassir Arafat, after he refused to accept the resignation of his premier Ahmad Qurei’ and his decision to appoint his nephew to a key position in the military.