Bush Promises a Palestinian state by the end of 2008, Erekat is skeptical

Bush: Palestinian state by the end of 2008

Date: 10 / 01 / 2008 Time: 13:09

Ramallah – Ma'an –

US President George W. Bush is "confident that with the proper help a state of Palestine will emerge" by the end of 2008.

Bush was speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, after a half-hour meeting at Abbas' headquarters in Ramallah in the central West Bank, on Thursday.

"The fundamental question I have is whether President Abbas is committed to peace. It's the same question I have for the prime minister of Israel. I've come to the conclusion that both men understand the importance of two democratic states living side by side in peace," Bush said.

"I want to nudge the process forward and put pressure on both sides," he said, adding, "I'll be a pain if I need to be a pain."

Road Map

"There are three tracks to this process. One is the negotiations should define a vision that will be subject to the Road Map. Secondly - to resolve Road Map issues. We've agreed to a trilateral process. We want to help the Israelis and the Palestinians resolve their differences over the Road Map issues. Thirdly, is to help the Palestinians develop the infrastructure for a democracy - that is the economy and the security forces," Bush said.

He added that the US has offered financial help to the Palestinian people, adding "I firmly believe that the Palestinians are entrepreneurial people who just given a chance will be able to grow their businesses and provide jobs."

settlements

When questioned about the continuing Israeli settlement expansion, he said, "Settlements are clearly stated in the Road Map as obligations for Israel. We have made our concerns about the expansion of the settlements known. We expect Israel to abide by its obligations under the Road Map."

checkpoints

Bush responded flippantly to a question about the removal of Israeli checkpoints that carve up the territory of the West Bank, saying he was able to pass through the checkpoints in his motorcade without being stopped. "I don't think it's like that for the average citizen," he quipped.

He said that when there is a Palestinian state with a proper security infrastructure then there will be no need for Israeli checkpoints.

"The vision of the Palestinian state is one of contiguous territory. Swiss cheese isn't going to work when it comes to the outline of a state. Our position is abundantly clear to both sides, our ultimate vision is for there to be no checkpoints throughout the Palestinian state to-be," he said.

Hamas

On Hamas, Bush said, "There is a competing vision taking place in Gaza." He said that when Hamas was elected in January 2006 it was hoped they could improve conditions for people living in the Gaza Strip, such as improved health care and education, but they "have delivered nothing but misery."

obstacles to peace

Abbas reiterated the Palestinian commitment to the promises made at November's Annapolis summit and asked the Israelis "for the same commitment."

"Settlement and roadblocks are the main obstacles to the peace process. We are completely satisfied with the results of US president's visit and we will enter into talks with the Israelis soon," Abbas added.

historic visit

Abbas described Bush's visit as "historic" saying, "Mr. President, our people will not forget your call for and your commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian independent state as you are the first US president to emphasize that Palestinian right." He also described the Annapolis and Paris summits as historic.

The Palestinian people wish to end their suffering and to be able to move without checkpoints and roadblocks, and the separation wall, Abbas stated.

security

"We gave directives to our government to continue endeavors towards enhancing security and imposing order within a rightly guided system as well as maintaining the role of democratic institutions and civil society in order to establish a democratic and modern state. The government is exerting huge efforts towards that," he added.

Palestinian state

Abbas also expressed his hope that the post-Annapolis peace negotiations will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the Arab peace initiative, and before the end of Bush's term of office in January 2009.

Intensive security measures in Ramallah and Bethlehem for Bush's visit

Date: 10 / 01 / 2008 Time: 10:13

Bethlehem –

Intensive security measures were imposed in the West Bank on Thursday for the visit of US President George W. Bush. Ramallah and Bethlehem have effectively been sealed off, with roadblocks every few metres in both cities.

People have also been warned not to stand on rooftops as they risk being shot at by snipers.

Bush is (arrived) to Ramallah where he (met) with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, before heading to the Nativity Church in Bethlehem in the southern West Bank.

In Ramallah, Palestinian security services have closed all the roads leading to Abbas' headquarters, the Muqata'a, where the meeting between Bush and Abbas will take place.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said it was unlikely anything could be gained from George Bush's visit to the region.

He explained that the Palestinian Authority will ask Bush to activate the tripartite Palestinian, Israeli and US plan for peace and to ensure the Road Map plan is implemented as was agreed at November's Annapolis summit.

Bush will tell Abbas that he has to choose between a state or security chaos, according to the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday, Bush said that the 60 year war between the Israelis and Palestinians had reached a "historic turning point." He called on both sides to honour their commitments to the Road Map, saying Israel must evacuate its settlement outposts and Palestinian rocket fire into Israeli cities must cease.

De Facto Palestinian government warns against more Palestinian concessions during Bush's visit

Date: 10 / 01 / 2008 Time: 11:09

(Ma'anImages) Gaza – Ma'an –

The de facto Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday warned against any concessions by the Palestinian negotiation team during US President George W. Bush's visit to the region.

In its weekly session, the Gaza-based government said that any progress in the peace process will only mean more Palestinian concessions because it is inconceivable that Bush has come to exert pressure on Israel as the United States and Israel "are two sides of the same coin."

Several issues were discussed in the government's session, namely the repercussions of the US president's visit which will be "more American sanction of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people under the pretext of security."

The ministers noted that many of Bush's aides, who are accompanying him on his visit, have always given priority to guaranteeing Israel's security over any other issues. Bush himself stated his wish to achieve a comprehensive security plan in the Middle East before his arrival in the region.

The de facto government also expressed its concerns that Bush will give a tacit nod to further Israeli action against Palestinians in Gaza Strip, as well as the Palestinian Authority's arrest campaigns against Hamas members. They also expressed their fears that Bush will ignore the increasing settlement activity in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.