'Time our greatest enemy’
Palestinian leader Abbas meets with President Bush, says sides must end Israeli-Palestinian conflict “before it is too late.” Meanwhile, Americans pledge to offer USD 50 million in housing aid for Palestinians in Gaza
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush praised Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' steps toward democracy on Thursday and said the United States will pay USD 50 million in housing aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
"You have made a new start on a difficult journey, requiring courage and leadership each day. And we will take that journey together," Bush told Abbas.
The USD 50 million in new direct aid is part of a USD 150 million package Bush is seeking for the Palestinians from Congress. Bush said the money would help Palestinians settle into Gaza once the Israel withdrawal set for this summer is complete.
For his part, Abbas vowed to adhere to the U.S.-supported peace process but said, "Time is becoming our greatest enemy. We must end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict before it is too late.”
Asked about the presence of Hamas candidates on the July 17 Palestinian ballot, Bush said that the United States hasn't changed its views of the group.
"Hamas is a terrorist group. It's on the terrorist list for a reason," he said.
Still, Bush added, "As the elections go forward, of course, we want everybody to participate in the vote. There's something healthy about people campaigning, saying, `This is what I'm for.'"
He suggested Palestinian voters would reject candidates who advocate violence.
"Palestinian moms want their children to grow up in peace just like American moms want their kids to grow up in peace," Bush said.
Bush said that both the Palestinians and Israel must live up to their obligations under the so-called "road map" peace process that calls for creation of an independent Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.
"Israel must continue to take steps toward a peaceful future" and not take steps that contravene road map obligations, Bush said. He said Israel must "remove unauthorized outposts and stop settlement expansions."
At the same time, the Palestinians must end violence against Israelis.
"You cannot have a democracy based upon rule of law if you have armed bands of people who will use their weapons to try to achieve a political outcome," Bush said.
"We must not lose sight of the path ahead," he added.
'Democracy is like a coin'
Bush said he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Jerusalem and Ramallah before the Israeli withdrawal.
Abbas reiterated Palestinian objections to a barrier being built by Israel to protect its territory.
"There is no justification for the wall and it is illegitimate and well as settlements — it is illegitimate and we should not allow," he said.
Abbas said that he remains committed to establishing a Palestinian democracy.
"We have chosen democracy as a way of life. This was not an adventure. This was a determination and a strategy that democracy is the only way to move forward," he said.
"But democracy is like a coin, it has two sides, on the one side is democracy and the other side is freedom. ... Now we lack freedom ... We do not live in freedom in our homeland," Abbas added.
The two leaders spoke with reporters in the White House Rose Garden.
'Time to negotiate'
In an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal Thursday, abbas wrote that "President Bush has supported our quest for freedom, as he made clear in his vision of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict."
Later, he warned: "It is also, however, a vision that is under attack."
"If President Bush is still convinced and committed to his original vision, as I hope he is, and if Prime Minister Sharon is pressed to abandon a unilateral solution, we can together make 2005 the year of peace in the Middle East," Abbas wrote.
'Most Israelis, Palestinians want peace'
In the article, Abbas notes that in four months and through persuasion he managed to do what Israel could not achieve in more than four years of military attacks, namely a relative lull in violence.
However, the continued calm is in danger unless peace talks are initiated at once, the Palestinian leader wrote, adding that the upcoming Gaza pullout must only be viewed as a first step, to be followed by more withdrawals and peace talks with the purpose of reaching a final-status agreement.
Turning his attention to the Jewish state, Abbas wrote "Every day Israel is undertaking steps that undermine President Bush's vision and effectively preclude a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".
However, the Palestinian leader added that most Israelis and Palestinians want peace, slamming the current Israeli government for not moving in that direction.
