Report: Bush to deliver MidEast speech

UPI ^ | Monday, June 24, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush is tentatively scheduled to deliver a speech Monday unveiling his administration's new Middle East policy, Ha'aretz reported, citing White House officials.

Bush was scheduled to deliver the speech last week, but decided to postpone following the two suicide bombings in Jerusalem, in which 26 people were killed and the subsequent Israeli reaction.

The president spent the weekend conferring with advisers on the timing and details of the much-anticipated speech, which will outline new American proposals to end the Middle East conflict.

The newspaper reported in its Monday edition that aides want Bush to make the speech before heading to Canada on Tuesday for a three-day summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

Palestinian Authority minister Nabil Sha'ath called on President Bush to declare his support for a Palestinian state that would be created within two years.

Sha'ath told "Fox News Sunday" he hoped Bush "will set a timeline of not more than two years" in his call for the establishment of Palestinian state.

"Of course we would like to declare a state that would be in effect legally bound with the borders of 1967," he said. In practice, however, "the borders will be negotiated... We don't mind some minor modifications on the '67 borders on a swap basis."

Bush is expected Monday to call for formation of a state of Palestine with permanent borders within three years. The new U.S. policy is expected to call for the early creation, perhaps within a year, pf a Palestinian state with temporary, or provisional, borders.

Once a state is established, Israel would be asked to halt incursions into Palestinian areas, freeze settlement building and be willing to negotiate with the Palestinians, the newspaper said.

The president's proposal for a temporary Palestinian state was met with caution Sunday by lawmakers who realize that achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians will not come easy.

"The quite frank fact is there has been such a deterioration in the Middle East that there is no ground on which the Palestinians and the Israelis can talk to one another," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

"I think he's right now the only man with a plan. I hope it will work," said Lott, of Bush's controversial proposal. "But one of the things you have to understand about Israel today, Israel will have freedom and it will have peace in that order and on their own terms."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., told CNN the president "has to be careful that we don't get a signal that violence and suicide bombings or homicide bombings as I call them, are going to be rewarded."

Copyright © 2002 United Press International

[JohnHuang2]

Monday, June 24, 2002

Quote of the Day by LonePalm

[Miss Marple]

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., told CNN the president "has to be careful that we don't get a signal that violence and suicide bombings or homicide bombings as I call them, are going to be rewarded."

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't THE WHITE HOUSE initiate the use of this term?

[RaceBannon]

If Bush abandons the West Bank to the Palis, all those Jewish Settlements will be overrun and the Jews there wiped out. Forcible resettlement would be a cruel, but needful action to almost prevent that coming bloodshed if they abandon the West Bank.

The west bank will also become an armed camp worse than Jenin was. This will only bring a future war against Israel.

[JohnHuang2]

Yes, that's right, Miss Marple. And, as I recall, the White House was roundly criticized for coining it. What hypocrits.

[JohnHuang2]

What hypocrits = the Barbara Boxers of the world.

[Miss Marple]

You know, there are some folks who are WAY overdue for a lightning bolt.

[dawn53]

The new U.S. policy is expected to call for the early creation, perhaps within a year, of a Palestinian state with temporary, or provisional, borders.

Interesting, all the reports I've heard seem to make it seem like the provisional Palestinian state is an immediate thing.

[ladtx]

The big up-side to creating a Palestinian state now would be that they could all be moved into one centralized area. It would also create a focal point, a country instead of an ambiguous PA with no real boundaries. A sort of "aiming point", at which to concentrate. I believe, given the Palestinian prediliction toward anarchy and Palestinian state most probably could not survive without sucking money from other Arab nations, thereby linking them monetarily and politically with what would most likely be termed a terrorist nation from the very start.

[LarryM]

If Bush does this, I am through with him, even if it means voting Libertarian in 2004. It will be the greatest act of appeasement and cowardice in human history, far exceeding the shame of Neville Chamberlain.

[Amelia]

Thank you, that's the only logical reason I've seen so far for creating a Palestinian state at this time. My "gut" reaction is that they should not be rewarded for terror, but annihilated.

[LarryM]

There is no logical reason. Once the terrorists have a state, Israel will not be able to cross borders in defensive actions without violating the borders of a sovereign state. This is a betrayal of world-historical magnitude. Bush is going to be the next Chamberlain!

[Miss Marple]

I think you are correct. Once there is a state, even a provisional one, Israel can declare war on it if attacked.

I like the idea of getting them all in one place.

[hchutch]

I bet that this speech is going to disappoint the Bush-bashers, who expect yet another sell-out.

Any takers?

[Miss Marple]

If the terrorists cross the border and blow something up, it would be considered an act of war and Israel would be justified in retaliating, just as they did in 1967.

[EdoTerglav]

I'm with you, if Bush makes this speech with an announcement of "provisional state" for Palestinians- it's over for me. I'd rather not vote than vote for him again.

[LarryM]

When was the last time Bush hasn't sold out his base?

1. Ted Kennedy's education bill

2. Campaign finance

3. Steel tariffs

4. Farm bill

5. Massive budget

And now he capitulates to Saudi threats. What's left?

[tabsternager]

Bush is right. The only solution to peace is to separate them and erect a wall with armed guards on the border. Israel continuing to rule over 3 million hostile Palestinians would be suicide, as we are seeing. Genocide or driving the Palestinians off the land or into the sea may be solutions, but they are not moral ones.

[LarryM]

No it wouldn't. The Palestinian State will have UN protection and will deny the terrorists came from their area. UN sanctions would be applied to Israel for any self-defense actions. In 1967 Israel attacked because Egypt blocked the Tiran straights, a clear act of war.

[LarryM]

Bush is not right. He is just too cowardly to confront our real emenies, the Saudis. The rest is just window dressing. Israel already rules over 1 million Palestinians within the 1967 borders. The only way to keep an Arab from killing is to rule over them by force. As far as expulsion not being moral, you are wrong. When someone tries to kill you, you have a right to kill or expel them.

[carton253]

Why don't we wait until we hear the speech before we decide if Bush is Chamberlain...