 |
 |
 |
|
|
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington on Monday. (AP)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
05/23
Ynetnews |
|
05/23
Haaretz |
|
|
| By israelinsider staff and partners May 24, 2005 |
|
| |
President George W. Bush will attempt to build a relationship with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas based on a shared commitment to democratic practices, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday. She added that Bush will insist that the Abbas dismantle all terrorist networks in Palestinian areas.
She said Bush will attempt to build a relationship with Abbas based on "the kind of connection only leaders with democratic goals can have."
Abbas is set to meet with Bush on Thursday in Washington.
Rice admitted to those attending the AIPAC Policy Conference that the U.S. made a mistake five years ago by seeking a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians before development of democratic institutions in the Palestinian territories.
She also suggested that Israel could not be expected to negotiate peace terms if terror and authoritarian rule were not curbed in the Middle East. "America and Israel tried before to have peace before democracy was there, and we are not going down that road again," Rice said.
She praised the Palestinian people for trying to meet that democratic challenge by voting for Abbas, who she said rejects violence.
But she said the Palestinians must continue with their democratic reforms, and "dismantle all terrorist networks that threaten its society."
Rice gently warned Israel against making "permanent moves" that might threaten progress on the road map. She did not mention anything specific, but seemed to be referring to Israeli plans to expand the town of Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem, by building 3,500 apartments between the two cities.
Other than the Israeli-Palestinian situation, Rice said Syria must remove its intelligence forces from Lebanon along with the soldiers it has recently removed; Arab states must end incitement in their media, cut off terror funding, and establish broader relationships with Israel; the world must not tolerate any Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon, nor tolerate Iran's attempts to "subvert democratic efforts through terrorism."
Expressions of support for Israel and demands that Abbas end violent attacks were registered in speeches by Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, Senate Minority leader Harry Reid, and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi.
"Will he close down Hamas?' Frist asked, referring to the militant group the State Department lists as a terror organization. "He must."
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
