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| By Israel Insider staff and partners October 7, 2005 |
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| Bush entertains Abbas in the White House, July 2003. (AP) |
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The White House dismissed as "absurd" allegations made in a BBC TV series that President Bush claimed God told him to invade Iraq. "He's never made such comments," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said that in a 2003 meeting with Mr Bush, the US president said he was "driven with a mission from God". Shaath claimed: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan. And I did, and then God would tell me, George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq... And I did. '"
Bush continued, according to the Palestinian: "'And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East. And by God I'm gonna do it.'"
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, who also was in the June 2003 meeting, recalled that Bush told him, according to the BBC: "I have a moral and religious obligation. So I will get you a Palestinian state."
But, apparently stung by the White House denial, the PA leader hurried to clarify. "This report is not true," Abbas said in a statement Friday."I have never heard President Bush talking about religion as a reason behind the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush has never mentioned that in front of me on any occasion and specifically not during my visit in 2003."
Shaath could not be reached for comment Friday.
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