President Bush announced Thursday he is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East on a new peace mission, as Israel consolidated its control of the West Bank. The United States is urging Israel to quickly finish its military incursions and return to the negotiating table to establish a cease-fire.
"America recognizes Israel's right to defend itself from terror," Bush said. "Yet to lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, and begin the withdrawal from those areas it has recently occupied."
Bush called on Arab nations to do more to crack down on terrorists. He ordered Powell to go to the region next week to carry the new message.
"The storms of violence cannot go on," Bush said. "Enough is enough."
Bush, in a White House also said Syria and Iran must "stay out" of the Middle East conflict to avoid widening it.
And he called on the Palestinians to stop suicide bombings, saying "suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."
Bush has faced mounting criticism with each new suicide bombing against Israelis and military response from Israel. He has been accused of doing too much and, by other critics, not enough. The speech was designed to prod both Israel and Palestinians to take tough steps toward peace.
To Israel, Bush called for a halt to incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas. He urged Israel to stop the building of settlements in Palestinian areas and "show a respect for — and concern about — the dignity of the Palestinian people." He said closed border crossings should be opened to allow for a freer flow of Palestinians.
"I speak as a committed friend of Israel, out of concern for its long-term security," Bush said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
