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Bush addresses the Union (AP):"The goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, is within reach...." (AP)
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| By Associated Press February 3, 2005 |
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President George W. Bush, putting U.S. money behind his optimistic rhetoric, is asking Congress for $350 million to help the Palestinians find jobs and to improve security forces assigned to block attacks on Israel. But no one is quite sure how to prevent the funds from funding terrorists who carry out attacks on Israel.
Already due to receive $75 million this fiscal year, Bush is proposing an additional $200 million for the Palestinians, plus $150 million for the bookkeeping year that begins Sept. 30.
A request of $75 million for next year had been expected, but the president is doubling that amount, said Edward Abington, a former U.S. diplomat who is consultant to the Palestinians.
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"The goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, is within reach, and America will help them achieve that goal."
George W. Bush
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Some $50 million of the new money is ticketed specifically for safeguarding border crossings between the Palestinian-held areas and Israel, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
Even while inching closer to negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has insisted on an end to terror attacks if he is to hold peace talks. Bush also is demanding a good-faith effort to uproot terror groups in Palestinian areas.
The election last month of Mahmoud Abbas, a declared foe of violence against Israel, as Yasser Arafat's successor is viewed by the Bush administration as part of a trend toward democracy.
Bush in his State of the Union speech Wednesday placed the Palestinians alongside Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iraq, as having held democratic elections.
"The beginnings of reform and democracy in the Palestinian territories are showing the power of freedom to break old patterns of violence and failure," Bush said.
"The goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, is within reach, and America will help them achieve that goal," he said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, now traveling in Europe, is due to fly to Israel Sunday for talks with Sharon and, on the West Bank, with Abbas.
Bush administration officials have concluded that security training needs to be improved, and the Palestinians need more jobs and better facilities, in order for peacemaking with Israel to have a chance.
Egypt on Wednesday summoned the leaders of Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan to a summit meeting next week, and they agreed to attend.
Rice has no plans to attend, according to her aides.
"In many ways, the visit itself is the message," Abington said.
"The Palestinians will want to hear the details of what the U.S. is going to do in concrete ways to rebuild their security services and to deal with their desperate economic situation," he said.
Rice said Monday that peace was impossible unless the Palestinians gained a state of their own that satisfies their aspirations. She also said statehood was "within our grasp."
The Europeans immediately welcomed her remarks. John Bruton, head of the European Commission in Washington, said Tuesday it was a very important statement.
European leaders have been urging Bush to assume a larger role in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Their general view is that unless Israel yields to Palestinian demands, anti-U.S. sentiment in the Arab world will not subside. That message is bound to be conveyed to Rice as she makes her way through European capitals.
The AP contributed to this report.
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