American and Israeli positions concerning the Palestinian elections

US President George W. Bush commended the Palestinian presidential elections and described them as free. He vowed to help the new president and work for the resumption of the peace talks with Israel.

In a statement issued from the White House, Bush said that difficult tasks are waiting for the new Palestinian president and his government including fighting what he called terrorism and curbing corruption.

The American president called on Israel to improve humanitarian and economic conditions for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. He also called on the Arab states to take serious steps to prevent the access of aids to Palestinian resistance groups which attack Israel.

For its part, Israel expressed its hope that Abbas's winning the elections will mark the beginning of a phase of peace and the commitment of the Palestinians to settlement and dialogue.

For his part, the Israeli deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert described the Palestinian elections as democratic and unique in the Arab world. He said in statements quoted by the American TV "the more difficult issues are still before Abbas after the Palestinian elections. And we will know if he will fight terrorism."