Stop fence and humiliation, Bush advises Israel

United States President George W. Bush toughened his stance on Israel's huge fence in the West Bank yesterday and Palestinian factions agreed to more talks on a truce.

Violence flared at the usually tranquil border with Jordan, where a gunman shot five tourists on the Israeli side before being killed. An Ecuadorean died of her wounds.

As the possibility of reviving a US-backed "roadmap" for peace in the Middle East again gains momentum, Bush urged Israel not to undermine the process by erecting "walls and fences" and expanding settlements on occupied land.

Bush in London outlined his goal of "a viable Palestinian democracy", arguing that for too long the Palestinian people had been betrayed by others, including an "old elite" of their own leaders who intimidated opposition, tolerated corruption and maintained ties with terrorist groups. He said there must also be security and peace for Israel, which had "lived in the shadow of random death" for too long.

But, crucially, he added: "Israel should freeze settlement construction, dismantle unauthorised outposts, end the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people and not prejudice final negotiations with the placements of walls and fences."

But Israel fended off the criticism from Bush and a call from Pope John Paul to build bridges with the Palestinians instead of walls.

"We have reached a clear and unequivocal decision to build this fence, to prevent the extremists from attacking us," said Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. "We are doing everything we can to put up this fence that will prevent infiltrations."

Palestinians call the concrete and razor-wire barrier a veiled bid to annex land and welcomed Bush's comments. He had said the barrier was a "problem" before, but took an unusually tough tone during his state visit to Britain.

Further pressure on Israel came from the United Nations Security Council, which voted unanimously for a Russian-drafted resolution backing the stalled roadmap that sees a Palestinian state by 2005 in exchange for guarantees of Israel's security. Israel had opposed the draft, wanting no UN role in peacemaking since it considers the world body pro-Palestinian.

After meeting Egyptian mediators in Gaza, the main Palestinian militant factions said they had agreed in principle to talks in Cairo next month on a truce with Israel.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad said the Egyptians had proposed December 2.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction will also attend.

- REUTERS, INDEPENDENT