Posted on 06/25/2002 9:06:46 AM PDT by SJackson
Palestinian officials have rejected calls by US President George W Bush for a new Palestinian leadership "not compromised by terror".
Mr Bush said in a long-awaited speech on Middle East policy that "reform must be more than cosmetic changes or a veiled attempt to preserve the status quo" if the Palestinians are to fulfil their aspirations for a state alongside Israel. He called on Palestinians to create an accountable, democratic government - something rarely found in the Arab Middle East.
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon released a statement saying that "when the Palestinian Authority undergoes genuine reforms and a new leadership takes its place ... it will be possible to discuss ways of moving forward by diplomatic means".
In his own statement, Mr Arafat said the Palestinian leadership welcomed Mr Bush's ideas as a "serious effort to push the peace process forward" and hopes "the details will be discussed during the direct and bilateral meetings with the American administration" and international mediators.
Mr Arafat ignored the call for a leadership change, but senior aides rejected it. Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the call was "not acceptable" and that Mr Arafat "was elected in free and fair elections, and this must be respected".
Mr Bush was seen to be making an implicit demand that Mr Arafat must step down before any US peace-brokering in the region can start.
Israel blames Mr Arafat for the recent suicide bombings and shootings. The US has said that Mr Arafat should have done more to prevent such attacks.
An official spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We welcome the speech and we welcome the engagement this demonstrates from the US administration.
"It states quite clearly a right to Palestinian statehood within three years on the basis of the 1967 borders, and talks about the right for Israel to exist within those borders."
He added: "We have always said it is for the Palestinian people to choose their own leader.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana welcomed the speech as a sign of "renewed engagement" by Washington, and said that the EU shared Mr Bush's objective of two states living side by side in peace and security
French foreign minister Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin said: "The speech... converges with the aims of France and the European Union, whether it be on the fight against terrorism, a stop to settlement building and an end to occupation."
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has called Mr Bush's speech "totally balanced," but said that "some points must be clarified".
Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "There are various difficult points remaining, such as the problem of leaders. I won't go into detail, but I appreciate the peace proposal."
No! It does not have to! Worship of elections is not the issue in free nations.
I want the American President to manage "America", and not go out trying to be "President of the World".
Why is the US Government into this "country building" stuff. They haven't got enough problems with their own forest people burning down our country?
What part of STOP MURDERING JEWS does he not understand?
He called on Palestinians to create an accountable, democratic government - something rarely found in the Arab Middle East.
Rare? Name one.
President Bush did not tell either side what to do. Also, "we" aren't into the mess. We are trying to assist both sides in getting past their violent relationship. George W. simply spelled out what's necessary if "we" are to be active in the process. Both can reject what the President has spelled out as conditions of our involvement in helping resolve the conflict IMHO.
It just might have something to do with 9/11 where we had Arab terrorists tearing down our WTC and killing almost 3000 American citizens. But, you knew that, didn't you?
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