Palestinians outraged at Bush

2004-04-15 12:32

Washington - President George W Bush broke with a decades-old US policy on the Middle East by saying Israel could keep some Arab land captured in the 1967 war, a stance that infuriated Palestinians and appears likely to shatter any early prospects for peace.

His stance outraged Palestinian premier Ahmed Qorei and drew veiled criticism from UN chief Kofi Annan.

Qorei accused Bush of an "unacceptable" violation of the US-backed roadmap, saying matters such as the borders and the status of refugees must be decided in negotiations involving all sides as laid down in the floundering plan.

"It cannot be decided by the president of the United States what is realistic and what is not realistic," Qorei said.

Violation of the roadmap

"This is a real violation of the roadmap."

Annan also called for final status issues between Israel and the Palestinians to be determined in negotiations based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"He strongly believes that they should refrain from taking any steps that would pre-empt the outcome of such talks," Annan's spokesperson said.

Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath urged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oppose a major US policy shift on the Middle East when he meets Bush on Friday.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana welcomed Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a chance to restart the roadmap, but insisted on the need for a negotiated accord.

Bush backed as "historic and courageous" Sharon's plan to withdraw from 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank.

But Bush declared that Palestinian refugees who fled after the creation of Israel in 1948 must settle in any new Palestinian state.

"In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centres, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949," he said, referring to large settlements in the West Bank.

In what appeared to be approval of a key Israeli demand, Bush said that Israel will retain the right after any pullout to strike Palestinian militants in Gaza.

But Bush also said the controversial barrier Israeli is building in the West Bank must not become a permanent construction. "It should be temporary rather than permanent, and therefore not prejudice any final status issues, including final borders."

Washington's endorsement was likely to give Sharon the backing he needs to win a vote in early May by his Likud party on the disengagement plan.

Sharon said in a letter to Bush that Israel plans to speed up work on the West Bank barrier but promised it would be "temporary rather than permanent" in line with Bush's demands.

But Qorei criticised Bush for not demanding Israel tear it down.

"It is not realistic that the Israelis occupy Palestinian territories; it is not realistic that the Israelis build the separation wall on the Palestinian territories."

- AFP