Arabs hail US support for Palestinian state, Israel fears backfire<\/p>\n
Agencies
\nJERUSALEM<\/p>\n
United States President George W. Bush's endorsement of a
\nPalestinian state Tuesday was welcomed by Arab countries, while
\nIsrael feared it might be perceived as a success for Osama bin
\nLaden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.<\/p>\n
Bush, under fire from Arab states for his hands-off approach
\nto the year-long Palestinian uprising and under pressure to lure
\nmoderate Arab and Muslim states into a global alliance against
\nterrorism, said that creating a Palestinian state has \"always\"
\nbeen on the U.S. Middle East agenda.<\/p>\n
Bush's endorsement of a Palestinian state was hailed by the
\nPalestinians.<\/p>\n
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat welcomed on Wednesday U.S.
\nPresident George W. Bush's endorsement of a Palestinian state,
\nsaying Palestinians wanted peace with the Israelis.<\/p>\n
The Palestinian news agency WAFA quoted Arafat as saying, \"I
\nthank the United States for its position, which is the
\ncornerstone for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in
\nthe Middle East.\"<\/p>\n
He added that \"the Palestinians remain committed to peace with
\nthe Israelis, which`is a strategic choice for them.\"<\/p>\n
\"The idea of a Palestinian state has always been part of a
\nvision, so long as the right to Israel to exist is respected,\"
\nBush told reporters in the White House Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had said on Sept. 23 that
\n\"Israel wants to give the Palestinians that which nobody has
\npreviously offered them -- not the Turks, nor the English, nor
\nthe Egyptians -- the chance to build their own state.\"<\/p>\n
But his office gave a lukewarm reception to Bush's comments.<\/p>\n
Sharon spokesman Zalman Shoval warned that the U.S.
\nendorsement of a Palestinian state could be perceived as a
\nsuccess for bin Laden, whom Washington says it can prove was
\nbehind the onslaught which killed thousands in New York and
\nWashington last month.<\/p>\n
He said that since Bush's peace initiative has been partly
\nprompted by his desire to enlist Muslim and Arab states against
\nbin Laden, Palestinians could wind up thanking the wanted Islamic
\nmilitant and Saudi dissident.<\/p>\n
\"Quite logically, the Palestinians could say 'Thank you bin
\nLaden,'\" for prompting Bush's backing of an independent state,
\nShoval told AFP, voicing fears that the U.S. president's remarks
\ncould therefore \"be counter-productive in the long run.\"<\/p>\n
For its part, the Arab League hailed the comments as a \"step
\nin the right direction\".<\/p>\n
\"We welcome those developments, both the support by the United
\nStates of a viable Palestinian state, and the meetings that will
\ntake place between the president (Bush) and President Arafat,\"
\nArab League chief Amr Mussa told journalists.<\/p>\n
Egypt also hailed Bush's comments, saying \"this unequivocal
\ndeclaration by the United States shows their determination to
\npursue active efforts for the implementation of the Mitchell
\nreport and is likely to open the way for final status
\nnegotiations.\"<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said he expected the declaration
\n\"to have active effects and Israel to halt its aggression against
\nthe Palestinians and choose the path which leads straight to
\npeace, justice and security for all peoples in the region.\"<\/p>\n
Expressing a similar view, Jordan welcomed Bush's backing for
\na Palestinian state as \"a good position and big progress from
\nAmerica towards the Palestinian cause, and it corresponds with
\nthe discussions King Abdullah II had recently with President
\nBush.\"<\/p>\n
Bush also said he stood firmly behind a roadmap to peace
\ncrafted by an international panel headed by former U.S. senator
\nGeorge Mitchell and said U.S. officials were \"working diligently\"
\nto end the year-long intifada.<\/p>\n
An anonymous Israeli official had earlier reacted to Bush's
\ncomments by saying that the setting up of a Palestinian state
\nwould \"only be possible in the context of a comprehensive
\nagreement to end the conflict between Israel and the Arab world.\"<\/p>\n
He reiterated the Jewish state's view that the key question
\nwas whether Arafat was ready to put an end to a year of violence
\nand return to the negotiating table.<\/p>",
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