Goff glimpses West Bank violence

7.30am - By KEVIN KANE

Foreign Minister Phil Goff's party had a taste of the turmoil in the Middle East when they were caught up in a rock throwing incident on the West Bank today.

Mr Goff told NZPA from Te Aviv today that his party, travelling in United Nations vehicles in the West Bank town of Nablus, had been surrounded by Palestinian children who moved between the cars of the minister's party hurling rocks at nearby Israeli troops.

"They (the kids) appeared from nowhere, dashing in and out of our cars hurling rocks at Israeli military vehicles that were driving by," he said.

"It was a bizarre experience -- these were kids of 10 or 11 who were utterly unconcerned about their safety."

Mr Goff said the incident "indicates the depth of feeling and hatred that exists in the area. This is the daily process of life in the West Bank townships."

"Our cars then turned the next corner and we were facing an Israeli tank, which swivelled its turret around and we were staring down the barrel of a tank gun.

"I have got to say that was one of the less easy feelings of my life."

The incident had highlighted that after all the meetings this was the reality of life on the West Bank, he said.

"If anything it just reinforced the absolute commitment that the whole of the international community has to make to try and find a way to replace this violence with the peace process."

Earlier Mr Goff met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, President Yasser Arafat, and members of the Palestinian cabinet.

"Abu Mazen struck me as a sound, moderate, experienced person who maybe is the key to the process."

Mazen was also seen by the Israelis as moderate and trustworthy.

The Minister also visited the compound of Yasser Arafat and found the Palestinian President "very much a man under siege." Mr Arafat has been a virtual prisoner at the compound for nearly three years.

But after meeting both leaders Mr Goff said he still believed that Mr Arafat should be kept "inside the tent" and part of the peace process because of his iconic status with the Palestinian people.

A point that had been stressed by the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Goff said.

At the meetings with the Palestinian political leaders Mr Goff had repeated an offer he had earlier made to Israeli leaders of New Zealand peacekeepers and this had been warmly welcomed by all he spoke to.

"We have I think a balanced approach to the Middle East issue and that has provided a degree of confidence with both sides."

The Minister also announced today that New Zealand would contribute $400,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for use on the West Bank.

- NZPA