MECCA
Posted on 06/25/2002 2:14:36 PM PDT by GeneD
Filed at 4:48 p.m. ET
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Israa Badr was pleased an American president finally recognized the need for a Palestinian state, saying George Bush ``is finally admitting there is something called Palestine.''
But like many other Arabs, the 25-year-old public relations officer mistrusts the motives behind Washington's plan for Mideast peace, saying America only has Israeli concerns in mind.
``It just won't work,'' she said, ``(the Americans) only listen to the Jews.''
Bush, who on Monday became the first American president to endorse Palestinian statehood, set strict terms for such a move. Only after the Palestinians elect new leaders ``not compromised by terror'' and complete political and economic reforms can they move toward a provisional state and then full statehood with U.S. and international backing.
``What is that plan based on? Just words,'' an angry Ahmed Abdel-Latif, 35, said in a Cairo coffee shop.
He said Bush has offered nothing new, instead repeating U.S. promises of Palestinian statehood fashioned to garner Arab support for the ongoing U.S.-led war on terror.
While not naming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his Rose Garden speech Monday, Bush made it clear he believed Arafat's time was up.
``Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leader so that a Palestinian state can be born,'' he said.
Many Arabs perceived Bush's call for leadership change as being too heavy-handed of an interference in Palestinian affairs that only can lead to disaster.
``The only thing left for Bush to do is to pick the Palestinian leader of his choice,'' said Jordanian shopkeeper Bassam Bittar, 30.
Bassam Barghouti, a Jordanian cosmetic shop clerk, said Washington is following suit with Israel in wanting a new Palestinian leadership.
``Whoever will succeed Arafat will be according to (U.S. and Israeli) standards and specifications,'' Barghouti said. ``This will be a disaster because such a leader won't work for the interests of his people.''
U.S. policy regarding the Mideast long has been perceived as biased toward Israel. Arabs have staged protests over Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories, burned U.S. flags and boycotted American and Israeli products.
``It seems that, as usual, Bush just wants to ensure Israel's security and provide nothing for the Arabs,'' Jordanian shop owner Hussam Kayali, 52, said. ``What is he (Bush) trying to do? Just have the Arabs let their steam out?''
Ahmed Ismail, an Egyptian print shop technician, said Israel's occupation of Arab lands since 1967 remains the key problem, something Bush said ultimately would be discussed during final status negotiations.
``The Palestinians won't give up their land. It is their right. A provisional state won't work,'' said Ismail, 48.
Farid Zahran, a pro-Palestinian activist in Egypt, said Bush's speech echoed the days of colonialism.
Bush's real intention in ``changing the (Palestinian) leadership'' is to ``give up on an (overall) Palestinian state and move toward self-rule (areas) and village councils,'' he said.
But for Sayed el-Bahrawi, an Arabic literature university professor, the speech offered good news by showing that America is unable to ``seriously interfere in the region's affairs, nor impose solutions on either party.''
If Bush had declared a Palestinian state Monday, ``all we would have is a crippled Palestinian state'' covering only 42 percent of the territory sought by Palestinians.
All righty, then. Let's
Bush Mistrusts Arab's Mideast Plan.
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