Reaction to President Bush's statements on the Palestinian state
Palestine-USA, Politics, 10/5/2001

The Arab League (AL), Paris, London and most of world capitals have welcomed the American inclination to supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, at a time when the Israeli government underestimated these statements, saying that this is not new as the US president had repeated this matter several times during the Camp David meeting in July 2000 and in Taba by the end of the same year, noting that the only new element is the timing the US President has chosen for his statement.

Avy Bazner, the spokesman for the Israeli government said in a statement that Bush's statements were part of the efforts made by the US to form the international coalition on fighting terrorism (to gain support from the Arab states), stressing that Israel is not intending to give up what he called concessions in support of the American project to form a terrorism fighting international coalition.

The israeli spokesman added that Israel has proven in the past how to behave in order to honor what he called the rights of Israel. He added that Israel will not accept any thing that contradicts with its vital interests.

For his part, the AL secretary general Amr Moussa expressed his conviction that the US will during the coming phase re-evaluate its stances towards the issues of the region, especially the cause of Palestine.

Moussa added in statements he made on Wednesday that efforts made to settle this issue have met great difficulties during the past ten years, stressing that the West understands well that it is difficult, or rather impossible to liquidate the Palestinian question, stressing the need of dealing with issue according to international legitimacy resolutions.

In Amman Jordan has welcomed the new American stand towards the Palestinian question. A stand that came in the context of a statement by the US President on adopting the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

The Jordanian minister of information Saleh al-Qallab described statements made by the US President as an advanced step by the side of the American administration.

Meantime, the spokesman for the French Foreign ministry Francois Revaso described the statement of the US President on his country's support to the establishment of a Palestinian state as positive.

In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesman added that the European Union has clearly announced its position since Berlin Summit in 1989 for the interest of founding a Palestinian state, noting that Bush's announcement goes in the right direction and is very positive.

Revaso has expressed France's concern over the deterioration of conditions in the Middle East adding that France calls for finding out a peaceful solution and halting the blood- shed in the region.

In Madrid, the Spanish foreign minister on Wednesday said that President Bush's backing for the principle of founding a Palestinian state embodies a great US contribution to solving the crisis.

The Spanish minister stressed the basic role that Washington has to play in searching for a solution to the crisis.

On the other hand, the British foreign ministry announced that Britain also supports the establishment of a Palestinian state that is valid for continuity, recalling the British and the European stances which support the establishment of a Palestinian state.

A spokeswoman for the British foreign ministry said that durable security can be only attained through a political process that implements the land for peace principle and puts an end to occupation.

Previous Stories:
  Bush: Palestinian state always part of US vision   (10/3/2001)
  Washington against buffer zones in Palestinian territories   (9/11/2001)
  ADC preparing public information campaign on behalf of Palestinians   (9/6/2001)

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