Although Bush talked to reporters about the eventual creation of a PA state, during the press conference he repeatedly used the word ‘Palestine’ as if such a nation were already in existence. Prime Minister Sharon, on the other hand, seemed to distance himself from statements he made in recent weeks calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said yesterday that the topic did not arise in his talk with Bush and that it was “premature” to discuss it. He also emphasized the need for reforms throughout the PA. Sharon confirmed that Bush asked him to freeze new housing for residents of Judea and Samaria, to which Sharon responded that the future of the Yesha settlement enterprise would have to be discussed at the last stage of the negotiations.



When asked whether or not Sharon should go back to the negotiating table with Yasser Arafat, the American president said, “I am never going to tell my friend, the Prime Minister, what to do… Arafat has let his people down… He [Sharon] is a democratically-elected leader.\"