Posted on 05/26/2005 6:13:16 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
Bush Praises Abbas, Says Israel Needs Palestinian Consent to Retain Formerly Arab Territory
Published: May 26, 2005 WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush embraced Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday as a courageous democratic reformer and bolstered his standing at home with $50 million in assistance to improve the quality of life in Gaza.
Abbas, the first top Palestinian leader to visit the White House during Bush's presidency, said Palestinians were "in dire need to have freedom" from Israeli control and that the need for U.S. help was urgent. He spoke just weeks before scheduled parliamentary elections in which his supporters are vying against the militant group Hamas.
"Time is becoming our greatest enemy," Abbas said toward the end of a three-day visit during which he projected himself as the peaceful successor to Yasser Arafat and depicted the Palestinians as long suffering at the hands of Israel. Arafat, who died last November, was never invited to the White House by Bush.
Laying claim to all the land the Arabs lost to Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, including east Jerusalem, Abbas said, "It is time for our people, after many decades of suffering and dispossessions, to enjoy living in freedom on their own land."
The boundaries of a future Palestinian state should be those that existed before the 1967 war, he said, meaning before Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
At a joint news conference in the sunlit Rose Garden, Bush lent a measure of support to the Palestinians' territorial demands. He said Israel needed Palestinian consent to retain land the Arabs lost 38 years ago.
Any changes Israel made in expanding its boundaries since the end of the 1948 war for independence "must be mutually agreed to," Bush said. And he said Israel must remove illegal makeshift outposts from the West Bank and stop expanding Jewish settlements.
Notably, the president did not repeat the support he voiced last year during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for Israel retaining large settlements on the West Bank near Jerusalem.
Later, a senior administration official who refused to be identified said Bush stood by past statements supporting Israel's claims to the settlements. And while Abbas called for prompt negotiations with Israel on an overall peace accord, the official said the administration believes the parties were not ready and could risk a breakdown if they moved too quickly.
Despite the display of comity, Bush and Abbas differed on the barrier Israel is constructing to screen out terrorists.
Abbas said, "There is no justification for the wall and it is illegitimate."
Bush said the barrier was part of an Israeli security effort and it "must be a security rather than a political barrier."
Israeli officials attribute a sharp decline in terror attacks to the barrier.
Overall, the atmosphere at the White House was warm and in sharp contrast to the Bush administration's appraisal of Arafat as corrupt and a supporter of attacks on Israel.
Asked whether Abbas had moved aggressively to dismantle terror groups in Palestinian-held areas, Bush said he knew he leader was committed to democracy and was elected on a peace platform.
"You cannot have a democracy based upon rule of law if you have armed bands of people who will use their weapons to try to achieve a political outcome," Bush said.
Still, he did not directly call on Abbas to dismantle Palestinian terror groups, though he reaffirmed that Hamas fit that description as far as he was concerned.
Bush said he would send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East to talk to Israeli and Palestinian leaders before the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza this summer. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said she probably would go in mid-June.
In a show of support, Bush said he would provide $50 million to the Palestinian Authority, which Abbas heads. The money is to be used for new housing in Gaza, which Sharon plans to evacuate this summer.
To get around Arafat, all but $20 million in U.S. aid for the Palestinians over the past decade has been channeled to third parties, not the Palestinian Authority.
"These funds will be used to improve the quality of life of the Palestinians living in Gaza," the president said.
Boucher said the $50 million would come out of $200 million in U.S. aid already approved by Congress for the current year.
Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y., a senior member of the House Appropriations committee, said Abbas was engaged in a struggle with Hamas for the hearts and minds of the Palestinian people and needed "to bring real results to his people."
Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian legislator, said in Ramallah the $50 million was a "modest beginning" and she was "sure the United States is capable of giving greater support not only to Gaza but also for the West Bank."
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On the Net:
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
State Department's Middle East Peace site: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rt/c2829.htm
AP-ES-05-26-05 1949EDT
Thank you all
I do want write this evil person Abbas go to France talk talk go to Germany talk talk this person Abbas do not go my country why truth Aushwitz Majdanek Zamosc Treblinka this person do not go Buhenwald Dahau Warsaw getto Krakow getto, no this person do not want truth!!!!America strong President I like you be strong!!!!today Izrael only have one good strong friend America America strong President remember Izrael!!!!America strong President this person Abbas is evil snake this person talk talk Thank you all Be strong Izrael!!!!
"There was no Palestinian state before the 1967 war, or ever."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our tax dollars going to the extermination of the Jews. Thanks alot Mr.Bush, you have let Israel, and America down.
Jeff
Pictures are nice, reality is something different.
Salem, don't misunderestimate this President. He is aware of everything that is going on! Believe that! He has the very best people all over the world giving him the best and most up-to-date information possible! I am sure he has many surprises up his formidable sleeves!
I really hope you are right. I really like the guy. He's Old School when it comes to dealing with thugs and tyrants, unlike his predecessor.
BS, I'll give you $50 million reasons why you are WRONG. You are missing the damn point. This is 50 million dollars of American tax paying dollars going too a terrorist. Get your head out of your arse, and see reality. Stop being blind to a "party" or a "person", why not send 50 million dollars too Osama?????????? GET IT? OSAMA AND ABBAS ARE THE SAME.
Jeff
Anyone who thinks this President doesn't understand the reality of this situation doesn't appreciate his intelligence--personal and institutional. In the meantime, pray for the right outcome! God's help can't hurt!
50 million dollars, sqaushes your argument.
I'm with Mississppi Muddy.
I don't like a little bit President Bush giving that murdering sob all that money, or for that matter, any money.
Every cent will be used to kill Americans and Israelis.
I have supported and voted for Presidet Bush but if he keeps on this track we will be parting ways. And President Bush could probably not care less.
Giving $50 million cash upfront for NOTHING is muy loco.
I could be wrong, but imo that's not what Sharon is doing. He recognizes that Israel doesn't have many friends, and a unilateral solution may be the only solution for the next few decades.
From a purely military perspective, it is wise to have all Israelis within the Israeli Wall and minimize all contact with the Palestinians.
The Israelis need labor for "the jobs that Israelis won't do"?
Fine. Import contract workers from Mexico......Free El Al flights from Mexico City to Tel Aviv for all Mexicans with worker's visas.
The Palestinians are getting out of hand in Gaza?
Fine. The Israeli Army and Air Force can still kick butt in Gaza from within Fortress Israel bases.
As things stand right now, some Israelis insist on the right to swim in shark infested waters and then demand that the IDF jump in to protect them whenever the sharks attack.
That not only puts themselves at unnecessary risk but also drains the resources of the IDF.
Sharon's Gaza decision has told those swimmers that they need to get back aboard the Good Ship Israel and stop jumping off the ship to have close encounters with the man-eating sharks.
The alternative is to kill every last shark and, in this day and age, that is not an option.
"At a joint news conference in the sunlit Rose Garden, Bush lent a measure of support to the Palestinians' territorial demands. He said Israel needed Palestinian consent to retain land the Arabs lost 38 years ago."
Jeez. Let's just hope he doesn't apologize to any American Indians. Will we all need to get their permission to stay here?
This deal rivals the one the flipped 7 made the other night in the Senate. Looks like the turnover to the Dems has already begun.
Wish I knew who really calls the shots.
But continue to supply them with electricity and infrastructure
Bush is giving Abbas the benefit of the doubt. If Abbas keeps trying to reform the Palestinian thugs, and doing what he promised regarding the roadmap to peace, Bush will keep working with him.
Please give it some time. Bush is.
That is patently false. Caroline Glick just had an article about them allowing 100 thousand Arabs from the PA who are married to Arabs in Israel to move there. Separation is a myth.
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