Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA)

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Why Israel Rejects “Observers”

August 1, 2001 | Saul Singer

In the midst of an already crumbling cease-fire, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell dropped what to Israeli ears was a bombshell. Standing next to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat after their June 2001 meeting in Ramallah, Powell said, "I think as we get into the confidence-building phase there will be a need for monitors and observers to...make an independent observation of what has happened."