gelatik
03.05.02, 11:14
WASHINGTON, May - Declaring that Israel must negotiate an end to its occupation
of Palestinian areas in the West Bank, U.S. President George W. Bush still as
yet has no plans to meet with Yasser Arafat because the just-freed Palestinian
leader has yet to earn his trust, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said
Thursday.
"Yasser Arafat has not yet earned his trust," Fleischer told reporters a day
after the Israeli army lifted its siege of the Palestinian's Ramallah
headquarters.
Although Bush said he saw "some signs of progress" in the Middle East and that
the end of Israel's siege, brokered by the U.S., of Arafat's compound left the
Palestinian leader "free to show leadership" towards peace, he said at a joint
press conference with top European leaders at the annual U.S.-EU summit.
"I'm optimistic we're making good progress," he said. "After all a week ago,
Yasser Arafat was boarded up in this building in Ramallah. ... He's now free to
show leadership."
"The president will continue to meet with [hardline Israeli Prime Minister]
Ariel Sharon as well as numerous Arab leaders," the spokesman added days ahead
of separate visits here by the Israeli leader and by Jordan's King Abdullah.
His comments came in response to the question of why Bush has never met with
Arafat since taking office in January of last year but has met several times
with Sharon, who is expected here early next week.
Asked about a possible ministerial-level international conference on efforts to
end violence in the Middle East, Fleischer said: "to do something like that
requires a lot of work on the ground. It's still is in the idea stage."
Asked whether the administration could send U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell back to the region, the spokesman also said there had been "no decision
yet" on whether to do so.
On the creation of a Palestinian state, Bush, speaking after meetings with
European leaders and continuing on the theme that the Palestinians are
primarily responsible for the violence in the Middle East, said the Palestinian
nation the international community wants to help them build "cannot be based on
a foundation of terror or corruption," news agencies reported.
Bush added though, "Of course, that places responsibilities on Israel as well."
Concerning the efforts of Arab nations in the region, he said he was encouraged
by recent meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, and said, "I'm absolutely
convinced it's going to require the efforts of the Saudis and Jordanians and
Egyptians to try to cement a lasting peace," and said that Arab states had to
help restrain Arafat.
The comment comes after the White House earlier Thursday criticized Arafat
statements after his release in which the Palestinian leader condemned the
Israeli’s as "terrorists, Nazis and racists."
But Bush has not embraced all the details of the Saudi "vision", several of
which could prove to be deal-breakers, reports news agencies.
News agencies also report that Sharon, who will see Bush on Tuesday, will face
pressure to follow up the Ramallah pullout by moving forward on the Saudi peace
proposal. However, although Sharon has agreed with Bush on statehood for the
Palestinians, he is conditioning the offer on a long, interim period of
security and an end to “terror.”
Jordan's Abdullah, due to meet Monday with Powell and Bush on Wednesday, is
pushing a plan similar to that of the Saudis. Like the Saudis, Jordan wants
Israel to give up the West Bank, Gaza and part of Jerusalem, territory it
captured in the Six-Day War of 1967, in exchange for promises of peace and
recognition, news agencies report.
One U.S. State Department official quoted by the Washington Post said, "We
think, and the State Department thinks . . . we probably have to raise both the
level and the pace of U.S. diplomacy in the region, maybe with the assistance
of others."
The State Department and officials within Defense have been battling over U.S.
policy approaches in the Middle East, with Defense supporting Israel’s
aggressive military policy.
The Post reports, however, that following meetings with Saudi’s Abdullah, Bush
has emphasized a more balanced approach.
