Bush calls on Palestinians to support Gaza withdrawal plan

"If the plan is implemented, there is a real chance to move forward toward peace and toward the realization of Palestinian national aspirations," Bush said in the three-page letter to the Palestinian Prime Minister .

"The building of the institutions of a Palestinian state could then begin in earnest, in Gaza".

According to Bush, "The United States will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations, including on the borders of a Palestinian state".

"I urge you and your cabinet to seize the moment and undertake practical, positive steps that will meet your road map commitments, will make an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank a turning point...and will truly improve the lives of Palestinians living there", the President added.

The letter came amid signs of renewed contacts between Washington and the Palestinians, who are furious at unprecedented assurances given by Bush to Israel last month in a bid to support the Gaza Strip pullout plan.

Last weekend, Bush infuriated the Palestinians when he told the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram that establishing a Palestinian state by the end of 2005, as determined by the Road Map, was not a realistic goal. In response, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat said that the goal was “more than realistic”.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said on Monday he is slated to meet US Secretary of State Colin Powell during the coming weekend in Amman. If the meeting does indeed take place, it would mark the first meeting between senior US and Palestinian officials since President Bush handed Sharon the letter of commitment. Abu Ala is scheduled to meet US National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, on May 17 in Berlin.

To: SJackson; Yehuda; Nachum; Paved Paradise; Thinkin' Gal; Bobby777; adam_az; Alouette; IFly4Him; ...

2 posted on 05/12/2004 5:46:14 AM PDT by yonif ("So perish all Thine enemies, O the Lord" - Judges 5:31)

According to Bush, "The United States will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations, including on the borders of a Palestinian state".

Or Aztlan....

JORDAN IS PALESTINE

3 posted on 05/12/2004 6:07:59 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)

US President George Bush sent a letter on Tuesday to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia(Abu Ala), in which he asked him to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip."

President Bush,
You really need to get some new advisors. The pali's are not going to support this. Even if they said they would, they would be lying.

4 posted on 05/12/2004 6:16:30 AM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)

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