Free Republic

Bush sets terms for Palestinian state, urges end to Israeli `occupation,' Powell announces international conference Thu May 2, 6:38 PM ET By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON - The United States joined with the United Nations (news - web sites), the European Union (news - web sites) and Russian on Thursday in calling for an international Mideast peace conference as President George W. Bush (news - web sites) set tough terms for a Palestinian state. Slideshows Audio/Video (AP) (AP) Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), after meeting with U.N., European and Russian officials, announced they had...

AMMAN, April 10: Defying a US request, Egypt declined to condemn a suicide bombing that killed eight Israelis on Wednesday and instead said Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation was justified. The United States, Egypt's main financial backer, asked Arab States last week to condemn suicide attacks against Israeli targets as a "terrorist activity" that fuels more violence in the Middle East. But Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Israel's refusal to negotiate a just peace deal with the Palestinians and attacks on Palestinian cities was behind the suicide bombings by Palestinians seeking liberty. Maher, on a visit to Jordan to...

<p>RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) --  Under a gray, dripping fog penetrated by the occasional crack of gunfire, Palestinians buried 15 of their dead Tuesday in a hospital parking lot -- a gesture driven by grim necessity, but also intended as a protest against hardships suffered during Israel's 5-day-old military occupation of this West Bank city.</p>