Bush keeps distance on Mideast

WASHINGTON - The Bush Administration, underscoring the new United States approach to Middle East peace, told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon it would not force the pace of talks, but criticised plans to expand Jewish settlements.

With Sharon at his side, President George W. Bush told reporters yesterday: "I told him that our nation will not try to force peace, that we will facilitate peace and we will work with those responsible for peace."

Separately, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher criticised plans to build almost 3000 more Jewish homes on the edge of Arab East Jerusalem. "We don't think that continued construction activity like this contributes to peace or stability."

The two statements appeared to underscore a marked departure from the deep personal involvement in the peace process of Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton, who strove in vain to secure an Israeli-Palestinian deal.

Settlements have long been a key issue in US Middle East peace efforts. In the early 1990s, James Baker, Secretary of State when Bush's father was President, called Sharon, then Housing Minister, an "obstacle to peace" because of his drive to settle Jews in occupied land.

Sharon, a right-wing former general, took office two weeks ago in an electoral landslide after promising to restore Israeli security in the face of a six-month-old Palestinian uprising for independence on the West Bank and in Gaza.

Security for his Washington visit was unusually tight. Police with metal detectors checked pedestrians for weapons in Lafayette Park across Pennsylvania Ave from the White House and near Blair House, where Sharon was staying.

Aides to Sharon said that in his first talks with Bush since they both took office, the Israeli leader hoped to head off any visit to Washington by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, whom he accuses of fomenting the violence.

"I haven't made up my plans on who I'm going to meet with yet," said Bush when asked if Arafat would be his guest.

Sharon told Israeli journalists after his meeting that he had told Bush that to invite Arafat would send a signal that "terrorism pays." The journalists said Bush did not reply.

Israeli delegation sources told reporters afterwards that Bush had told Sharon, "I'm 100 per cent with you" that there should be no negotiations under the pressure of "terror."

A senior US official insisted that Sharon made no request that Bush hold off inviting Arafat. The official called on Arafat to reduce the violence, but he said this was not a condition for an invitation.

The official said Israel also had to restore normal economic activity in Palestinian areas where it had imposed measures blocking the free passage of people and goods.

Hassan Abdel-Rahman, the Palestinian ambassador in Washington, said there were no plans for a Bush-Arafat meeting.

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Middle East

Map

UN: Information on the Question of Palestine

Israel's Permanent Mission to the UN

Palestine's Permanent Observer Mission to the UN

Middle East Daily

Arabic News

Arabic Media Internet Network

Jerusalem Post

Israel Wire

US Department of State - Middle East Peace Process