U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at a news conference yesterday. (AP)

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The United States yesterday adopted the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission and called for an "unconditional cease-fire" as the first step towards implementing the commission's report. In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell named Ambassador to Jordan William Burns as his "special assistant" to coordinate discussions with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

At a news conference yesterday announcing the official version of the Commission's report, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell called for the immediate implementation of the panel's recommendations. "The greatest danger of all, is that the culture of peace, nurtured over the previous decade, is being shattered," he warned.

Mitchell specifically called on Palestinians to jail terrorists

"Active American engagement in the Middle East is a necessity, not an option" - U.S. Ambassador to Jordan William Burns

and on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, both necessary steps to bring the region "back from the abyss." The Commission report called for the "immediate and unconditional cessation of violence,'' followed by steps to rebuild confidence and trust.

"Two proud peoples share a land and a destiny. Their competing claims and religious differences have led to a grinding, demoralizing, dehumanizing conflict,'' Mitchell said. "They can continue in conflict, or they can negotiate to find a way to live side by side in peace.''

Powell calls for unconditional cease-fire
Speaking in Washington immediately following the Mitchell Commission's conference in New York, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell announced American acceptance of the panel's recommendations. Powell called "on both sides to… immediately implement an unconditional cessation of violence and resume security cooperation." Powell noted "the report's reference to the need for the Palestinians to make an all-out effort to enforce a complete cessation of violence."

Powell specifically related to the Commission's call for a freeze in Israeli settlement activity. "We believe that this issue is an essential confidence building measure that must be addressed by the parties," Powell said, reiterating that the confidence building measures would only be discussed following the cessation of violence.

Powell stated, "The United States is prepared to work closely with the parties to develop a framework and time line to implement the report's recommendations, including the return to negotiations."

Powell instructed "Ambassador [to Israel] Martin Indyk and Consul General Ron Schlicher to begin working immediately with the parties to facilitate implementation of the report's recommendations." Indyk met last night with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss the Mitchell report recommendations. This morning Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh denied media reports that Indyk would also be meeting today with PA Chairman Yassir Arafat.

William Burns to serve as Powell's "special assistant'
Secretary of State Powell appointed Ambassador to Jordan and Assistant Secretary-designate for Near Eastern affairs William Burns as his "special assistant" to help "bring these recommendations into effect and then set out the timeline for implementation of the confidence-building measures leading to the resumption of negotiations."

Powell said only after receiving an initial report from Burns would he determine what his own role would be in promoting regional peace. This statement ended speculation that Powell would meet in the near future with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

The appointment of Ambassador Burns "symbolizes the [Bush] administration's reversal from its earlier inclinations to stand back from the Mideast conflict," wrote Ron Kampeas for an Associated Press report. Even so, many analysts noted reluctance on the part of the Bush administration to get directly involved in the conflict.

"With all its hazards and frustrations, active American engagement in the Middle East is a necessity, not an option,'' Burns told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.

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