The United States expressed increased concern today about the violence on the West Bank and implied criticism of the Israeli army use of weapons against Arab demonstrators.
This was apparent in a statement on the situation by the State Department today although Department spokesman Dean Fischer said it was the “some tone” as a statement issued by the Department yesterday, but worded differently.
The statement read by Fischer today noted that the U.S. was “increasingly concerned” by “the heightened level of tension, demonstrations and especially the use of lethal force against demonstrators.”
Yesterday’s statement, which expressed concern about the “increased confrontation and violence,” noted that “we are especially concemed about the use of lethol and potentially lethal force.” The statement yesterday was more ambiguous as to who was using such force.
Fischer’s statement today also said: “We deeply regret the tragic loss of life that has occurred. We hope that all those involved will exercise the utmost restraint, to calm the situation and to prevent further bloodshed.”
Meanwhile, Morris Draper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian affairs, in response to questions while testifying before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, said the U.S. was “disturbed” over the violence and called it the “most serious of its nature in many, many years on the West Bank.”
Draper said the incidents on the West Bank will have a “negative affect” on efforts to stabilize the Mideast and to bring solutions to the region’s many problems. He said the “turmoil” reflects some of the suspicions by some Palestinians toward Israel’s intentions and thus harms efforts to bring the residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip into the autonomy talks.
Draper said a “change is underway” in Israel’s policy toward the West Bank in which the Israelis are using a “carrot and stick” approach to reward West Bank officials who oppose the Palestine Liberation Organization and withdraw support from those who support the PLO. He said this can be seen in the efforts to establish the largely rural based Village Leagues which the Israelis see as alternatives to the urban mayors and councils.
Draper said that while the U.S. has not taken a position on the removal by Israel on the mayor and town council of El Bireh, it believes as a general principle that elected officials are best.
In another development, Fischer revealed that the U.S. has offered Washington as on alternative site for the next meeting of the outonomy working level committee scheduled Sunday. Egypt and Israel are deadlocked in a dispute over the site because Israel demands it be held in Jerusalem and Egypt wants to continue meeting in Tel Aviv. Fischer said yesterday that the U.S. considers the dispute a bilateral problem between Israel and Egypt and the U.S. will meet anywhere the two agree upon.
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