President Bush on Thursday called on Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas as he began shifting U.S. policy to increase pressure on the Israelis to do its part to stop Middle East violence. Bush, in a White House Rose Garden speech that followed a barrage of international criticism at the U.S. role, also said Syria and Iran must "stay out" of the Middle East conflict to avoid widening it. And he called on the Palestinians to stop suicide bombings, saying "suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state." Bush repeated Israel's right to defend itself but added, "Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied."
Held off the pressure as long as he could. Now we'll have to talk about this for a couple days and give Powell time to get over there. That buys just a little more time. I don't think it'll be enough to actually dump Arafat, though. Dammit. |