Bush seeks Arab support for Middle East peace plan
US president George Bush pledged to work unstintingly for a Palestinian state and Israel living side by side as he prepared to meet Arab leaders in Egypt today.
Bush, claiming progress but admitting that “this is going to be a difficult process”, sought support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain at a summit with the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas, in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, said yesterday the Palestinian leadership “is committed to implementing its part of the road map and calls on Israel to do the same”.
The United States is seeking Arab commitments to strengthen Abbas’ credibility and raise his stature, hoping to marginalise Yasser Arafat, the long-time Palestinian leader who Bush says is untrustworthy.
“I know we won’t make progress unless people assume their responsibilities,” Bush said. “The first message is: I will dedicate the time and energy to move the process forward. And I think we’ll make some progress. I know we’re making progress.”
Arriving at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik last night for his first visit to the Middle East, Bush was greeted at the airport by Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Bush wrapped his arm around him in a hug. Mubarak signalled his acceptance of the US formula for peace by inviting Abbas instead of Arafat to the summit.
US diplomatic sources said the Arab leaders would reaffirm their support for both an Israeli state and a Palestinian state existing side by side. They also were expected to offer recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from territory it seized in the 1967 war, the sources said. The Arab world endorsed a similar plan by Saudi Arabia in March 2002.
Bush’s first foray into the complicated world of Middle East negotiations poses a sharp test for a president whose mastery of foreign policy has been doubted at times. He had resisted involvement in Middle East peace efforts but promised allies earlier this year he would plunge in after the Iraq war.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the summit was important to demonstrate Arab support for the road map and show that Arab leaders would be “speaking out as strongly as I expect the Palestinians to do in denouncing terror and violence and any support that is given to those that practise terror and violence”.
Today’s meeting will be followed by another summit in Jordan tomorrow, with Abbas and Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Powell called the two days of talks a “window of opportunity” to build momentum for ending 32 months of bloody violence and launching the US-sponsored “road map” that envisages a Palestinian state by 2005.
Preparing for the talks, US officials worked with Israelis and Palestinians on the wording of possible declarations in which the two sides would recognise the other’s right to statehood and security. Such declarations are required by the road map, the phased peace plan that calls for an immediate cease-fire and reciprocal steps by the two parties.
Powell took note of Sharon’s statement on Sunday that Israel would dismantle settlements in Palestinian-controlled areas, set up in violation of Israeli law. Sharon’s commitment showed that Israel believed that “it’s a situation that is unsustainable over time”, Powell said.
He said the settlement issue would be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting. “I think it’s well understood that the outposts are not there properly and will have to be removed,” Powell said.
On the Palestinian side, Abbas’ government continued to work towards a declaration of a ceasefire on attacks against Israelis by militant groups like Hamas. While Israel demands a crackdown, including the arrest of Hamas militants, Abbas prefers to negotiate a truce.
Bush flew there from Evian, France, where he cut short his participation at the G8 annual summit of industrialised nations by a day.
