WASHINGTON (voa) – President Bush says Israel needs to immediately complete its withdrawal from Palestinian areas re-occupied in its recent offensive.
Speaking to reporters Friday at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Mr. Bush said Israel has made some progress on a pull-back. But he said, “it’s now time to quit it altogether… it’s time to end this.” The comments mark the first time President Bush has personally said that Israeli troops must leave Palestinian areas “now.”
Israel launched the offensive late last month after a series of deadly Palestinian suicide bombings. It says the incursions are aimed at uprooting Palestinian militant groups.
Mr. Bush also said he told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah in their talks Thursday the United States has a unique relationship with Israel and will not allow that country to be crushed.
Meanwhile, the White House says Mr. Bush is considering an eight-point Saudi proposal for revitalizing the Mideast peace process. Crown Prince Abdullah gave to plan to President Bush during their talks.
The plan calls for an Israeli pullout from all recently occupied Palestinian areas, an end to the Israeli siege in Ramallah, the deployment of international peacekeepers, and for both Israel and the Palestinians to each renounce the use of violence.
Other measures include a halt to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza; the rebuilding of damaged Palestinian areas; and new talks aimed at a political settlement to the conflict.
The plan also calls for U.S. leadership in implementing U.N. resolution 242, which demands Israel withdraw from Arab lands it captured in the 1967 Mideast War.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says Mr. Bush thinks the plan presents ideas both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can use to make progress.
