U.S. Has Problem with Israeli Wall, Bush Says

Yahoooooo "Reuters" (via Drudge) ^ | Fri Jul 25, 4:48 PM ET ?? | Steve Holland

[jjm2111]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas at his side, on Friday called Israel's security fence in the West Bank a problem that would hamper efforts to build trust.

Reuters Photo

But Bush was loathe to be too critical of Israel, saying he did not endorse a blanket release of Palestinian political prisoners as demanded by Abbas and that Abbas must crack down on Palestinian militants to help Middle East peace efforts.

Bush spoke at a joint news conference during Abbas' first White House visit. He will be followed next Tuesday by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites).

Abbas, who has said his government could fall without further Israeli confidence-building gestures, was adamant that Israel do more. He dismissed Israel's pledge on Friday to pull back from two West Bank cities and remove several main roadblocks, steps that Bush welcomed.

"Some steps have been taken by Israel so far, but these steps remain hesitant. The new era of peace requires the courageous logic of peace, not the suspicious logic of conflict," said Abbas.

The Israelis are building a fence around large portions of Palestinian areas, saying it is needed to protect against militants who have carried out suicide bombings in a 33-month-old uprising for an independent state. They have ignored previous calls to halt its construction.

Palestinians complain they are being walled in and that the fence is out of step with the concessions needed to advance the peace "road map" envisioning a Palestinian state by 2005.

"I think the wall is a problem and I've discussed that with Ariel Sharon," Bush said, in rare criticism of Israel. "It is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank."

Abbas said the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security cannot be realized "if Israel continues to grab Palestinian land."

Bush said discussions were being held on the release of Palestinian prisoners. But he ruled out asking Israel to free anyone "who would then commit terrorist actions." Israel plans to release hundreds of Palestinian political prisoners, but apparently not before Sharon's U.S. visit.

"We ought to look at the prisoner issue on a case-by-case basis. Surely, nobody wants to let a cold-blooded killer out of prison that would help derail the process," Bush said.

Pressed on why he would not demand that Israel freeze settlement activity, which Palestinians consider an obstacle to the road map, Bush said he had constantly talked about the need for ending settlements.

He said a Palestinian crackdown on militant groups like Hamas would help the road map. The Palestinian militants have called a cease-fire that expires at the end of September but have refused to give up their weapons.

"I'm going to tell you point blank that we must make sure that any terrorist activity is rooted out in order for us to be able to deal with these big issues," Bush said.

Abbas said the Palestinians backed the road map but needed help from Israel, including ending a siege on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, with whom Bush refuses to deal.

"We continue to negotiate with Israel ... Some progress has been made, but movement needs to be made in terms of freeing prisoners, lifting the siege on President Arafat, Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas and easing up freedom of movement to Palestinians," Abbas said.

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian legislator, said from the region that Abbas had asked Bush for a comprehensive plan to implement the road map but Bush seemed to favor going step-by-step.

"But nevertheless, it depends on what he will raise with Sharon in three days' time. I hope he'll go for the comprehensive approach and not step-by-step that Sharon favors," Erekat said.

Bush announced plans to boost economic cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and to dispatch his treasury and commerce secretaries this fall for high-level economic talks.

[jjm2111]

Let them defend themselves, Mr. President!

[jjm2111]

You know how to access the Israel ping list?

[StolarStorm]

The wall is the best idea that Israel has had in years. I can't think of anything else that will keep the murder bombers out. Israel just needs to ignore Bush on this one.

[joesnuffy]

When the roadmap fails because of islamo-fascist terror murders
who will get the blame?

The international press will of course blame Israel..because they hate her

The Islamo-Fascist will blame the USA and Israel because they hate her (Israel) first and the USA second
(they dont hate us quite as much because they are busy colonizing us something Israel will not tolerate)...& (of course they hope to control enough US politicians and peddle enough influence to oneday be able to dictate US policy against Israel)

This confilict is primordial...there will never be peace in the middle east...there cannot be- anymore than there can be peace between God and satan

The kind of peace Islam envisions is the kind found in cemetaries...its the hope of the Islamo-Fascist that this be a Judeo-Christian cemetary....albeit without markers...gone from the world gone from history...spoken about only around campfires in hushed tones

[sofaman]

Let them defend themselves, Mr. President!

Well said.

How dare we attempt to dictate to a sovereign nation, how they may defend themselves?

I understand that we are attempting to encourage some sort of peaceful solution (for want of a better word) in the ME. But to insist on a unilateral abandonment of defensive measures when it apparent that the Palestinians have done nothing to disarm the so called "militants", is to insist that Israel commit suicide.

[SouthernFreebird]

The only problem I have is it ain't finished yet.

[mass55th]

"Abbas, who has said his government could fall without further Israeli confidence-building gestures..."

Who cares Abbas! I'd need to see a bit more done by you in regards to disarming the terrorists before I'd make any changes in that wall.

[marron]

The president is wrong on this one. One part of a real roadmap to peace is for Israel to pick a defensible border, and seal it.

If this means that the West Bank no longer has access to Israeli employment and markets, so be it. It is a little much to expect Israel to suffer mass murder just to keep her Arab gardeners employed.

And cutting off access to Israel will force the Arab areas to look to Jordan for their economic sustenance. Since Arab Palestinians are by definition Jordanian, and Arab Palestine is by definition Jordan, it is time to force Jordan to step up to the plate, and assume its responsibility to its people.

The alternative to a fence is to expel the Arabs from the West Bank altogether, and it may come to that. A fence is the simplest and least disruptive way of getting where we need to go.

[Shermy]

Maybe Bush has in mind dismantling our fences at the Mexican border. Ya know, "we need labor". < /sarcasm>

[caltrop]

As long as we're sending Israel foreign aid we're entitled to tell them how they should use it. Personally, I won't care what they do once we stop sending them aid and allowing ourselves to be parties to their conflict.

[marron]

There is something wrong with people who would commit suicide in exchange for cheap labor...

A good immigration debate is long overdue.

[veronica]

This is kind of old news. Bush appears to have softened his stance on this matter, after meeting with Sharon.

[jjm2111]

What annoys me the most is that the Palis have made no real attempt (save the usual platitudes) in rounding up the people that find blowing up little children an acceptable form of warfare.

Israel gives and gives and gives and they are only rewarded with more death.

[Courier]

Think again

Powell: U.S. to keep pressing Israel on separation fence

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/323972.html

The Saudi owned administration can not be trusted where Israel is concerned.

[Belial]

This confilict is primordial...there will never be peace in the middle east...there cannot be- anymore than there can be peace between God and satan

Yeah, yeah. The Osama argument, just with flipped sides.

Luckily cooler heads in the Administration believe that peace is possible, and are actively working on it.

[FITZ]

I wonder if Bush is being honest about this and has first removed the fences around the White House and around his Crawford ranch?

[Courier]

"Luckily cooler heads"

Yes, those who keep their heads cooler by burying it between their knees.

[Belial]

Yes, those who keep their heads cooler by burying it between their knees.

Hey, it's easy to sit at your keyboard declaring that millions of people are "evil", and that negotiation is impossible. That they must move en masse or be liquidated.

That's not the real world, bucky. The world leaders are trying to come to terms with it. The ideologues can rant and rave on messageboards.

[Courier]

Like all those of your lying ilk, you make things up.

No one said anything about moving or liquidating anyone.

The Arabs can all continue to live in the Dark Ages, marry todlers, throw acid in the face of their women, amputate limbs, do whatever they want..

IF

Big IF

They don't reach out to kill US, innocent Israelis and various other Infidals, when ever they get the urge.

[FITZ]

The Arabs can all continue to live in the Dark Ages, marry todlers, throw acid in the face of their women, amputate limbs, do whatever they want..

Besides according to their Koran, they aren't supposed to mingle with the infidels, which is a good reason for them to want to stay on their own side of the fence.