Powell returns without peace

JERUSALEM -- Secretary of State Colin Powell failed to get the cease-fire he sought as he ended his 10-day peace mission Wednesday, leaving Israel and the Palestinians mired in violence and recrimination. \nPowell also was snubbed in Egypt as he returned home to report to President Bush. Still he pointed to what he called signs of progress, especially a promise by Israel to accelerate military withdrawal from the West Bank. \nPrime Minister Ariel Sharon gave assurances of "real results in the next few days," Powell said. "Only with the end of the incursion and with the engagement in security talks can a cease-fire be achieved." \nHe admonished Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat anew to "decide as the rest of the world has decided, that terrorism must end." But U.S. suggestions before Powell's trip that the peace mission would be Arafat's last chance had vanished by journey's end. \n"He holds the office of the presidency of the Palestinian Authority," Powell said at a news conference after his meeting with Arafat. "So whether one approves of that or disapproves it, or likes it or doesn't like it, it's a reality." \nBush, in a speech at the Virginia Military Institute, said Powell had made progress. He, too, urged Arafat to do more to stop violence. \n"The Palestinian Authority must act -- must act -- on its words of condemnation of terror," Bush said. \nThe president will assemble his national security team Thursday to hear from Powell and discuss the possibility of a Mideast peace conference. Bush wants to be sure the idea makes sense before embracing it, said a senior administration official.\nCIA Director George J. Tenet is considering going to the region next week, but no decision has been made, the official said. Bush and Powell also will discuss when Powell plans to return. \nThe United States hopes to "restart the clock" to conditions that were in place before the Passover bombing that killed 28 people in Netanya March 27, with Israel getting a resumption of Tenet-led security talks and the Palestinians knowing that the political process is not far behind, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. \nPowell, after meeting with Arafat Wednesday, met in Cairo with Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher of Egypt and Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher of Jordan before heading home. Powell was supposed to see President Hosni Mubarak, but was told Mubarak was "indisposed," Powell said. \n That rebuff came as some in the Arab world complained that Powell had not brought adequate pressure on Israel to end its offensive, which is designed to stop Palestinian militants from launching more suicide attacks. \n Israel must leave the West Bank before Arab states comply with calls for a peace conference or a cease-fire, the Arabs said. "We explained to him (Powell) that any talk of political or security issues must be preceded by an Israeli withdrawal and an end to the Israeli threats of either attacking Arafat's compound or the Church of Nativity," Maher said.