U.S. President George Bush has found time, amidst his preparations for the imminent war against Iraq, to make yet another call for the creation of a 23rd Arab state - in the heart of Israel's homeland and security areas.
In a Friday morning press conference at the Rose Garden, Bush said that the creation of the post of prime minister in the Palestinian Authority - which has not yet been formally filled - is a "hopeful moment for progress" towards his "vision" of "two states, Israel and Palestine, [living] side by side in peace and security." He once again laid side-by-side his chief demands on the sides: The Arabs must "abandon forever the use of terror," while Israel must "take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable and credible Palestinian state" and must end all settlement activity in the "occupied territories."
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed Bush's statement, emphasizing his promise to present the Road Map "when the Palestinian premier assumes power." The Saudi statement also underlined the importance Bush attributed to "stopping the settlement activity in the occupied Arab territories." The Saudis made no mention whatsoever of Bush's call for the PA state to "abandon forever the use of terror" and for "the Arab states [to] oppose terrorism... and state clearly that they will live in peace with Israel." Instead, the Saudis noted that the Road Map "calls for ending the Israeli aggressive measures against the unarmed Palestinian people," and the like.
Contrary to previous reports that stated that the Americans were putting the Road Map plan on hold until after the war with Iraq, Bush said that it would in fact be "given to the Palestinians and the Israelis" immediately after the new PA prime minister is installed.
U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice even told the Arab television network Al-Jazeera that Abu Mazen - Yasser Arafat's choice for the PA's prime minister would be invited to the White House. This is an honor that has not been accorded once to Arafat since George Bush was elected President.
In a Friday morning press conference at the Rose Garden, Bush said that the creation of the post of prime minister in the Palestinian Authority - which has not yet been formally filled - is a "hopeful moment for progress" towards his "vision" of "two states, Israel and Palestine, [living] side by side in peace and security." He once again laid side-by-side his chief demands on the sides: The Arabs must "abandon forever the use of terror," while Israel must "take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable and credible Palestinian state" and must end all settlement activity in the "occupied territories."
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed Bush's statement, emphasizing his promise to present the Road Map "when the Palestinian premier assumes power." The Saudi statement also underlined the importance Bush attributed to "stopping the settlement activity in the occupied Arab territories." The Saudis made no mention whatsoever of Bush's call for the PA state to "abandon forever the use of terror" and for "the Arab states [to] oppose terrorism... and state clearly that they will live in peace with Israel." Instead, the Saudis noted that the Road Map "calls for ending the Israeli aggressive measures against the unarmed Palestinian people," and the like.
Contrary to previous reports that stated that the Americans were putting the Road Map plan on hold until after the war with Iraq, Bush said that it would in fact be "given to the Palestinians and the Israelis" immediately after the new PA prime minister is installed.
U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice even told the Arab television network Al-Jazeera that Abu Mazen - Yasser Arafat's choice for the PA's prime minister would be invited to the White House. This is an honor that has not been accorded once to Arafat since George Bush was elected President.