[originaltext] Secretary of State Colin Powell is urging the Palestinians to

Secretary of State Colin Powell is urging the Palestinians to seize the opportunity that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s proposed withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank offers them. In remarks following a meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister in the Jordanian capital, Mr. Powell said the Sharon plan is a new opportunity. Ahmed Queria characterized his talks with Mr. Powell as very constructive and expressed optimism that a Palestinian state could still be achieved by next year. Mr. Powell was somewhat less optimistic on that front, saying there still remains much more to be done before that can be accomplished, but he did say Washington remains committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Efforts will continue Monday when Mr. Queria will meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in Germany to discuss the Prime Minister Sharon plan.
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