Bush says deal to end Arafat siege a 'hopeful' sign

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush heralded "a hopeful day" in the Mideast after personally brokering an Israeli-Palestinian deal to end the siege of Yasser Arafat's compound, and demanded that Arafat redouble his efforts to end terrorism.

With Arafat to be freed from house arrest as part of the pact, Bush said, "Now is the time for him to step up."

"Chairman Arafat is now free to move around and free to lead, and we expect him to do so," Bush told reporters on his ranch here, after a weekend of quiet diplomacy led to his greatest accomplishment in trying to defuse the crisis. "One of the things he must do is condemn and thwart terrorist activities."

But with stalemates and a setback on other fronts, Bush cautioned: "Much hard work remains and this is a time for all of us to commit to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East."

Bush called Sharon Saturday -- three times, according to the Israeli government -- and dispatched diplomats to negotiate directly with Arafat. Sharon will visit the White House the week of May 6, said White House spokesman Sean McCormack.

Bush proposal

Bush won agreement on his proposal that U.S. and British nonmilitary personnel guard six Palestinians who are wanted by Israel on assassination charges and are being kept in Arafat's headquarters at Ramallah, besieged for a month.

In return, Israeli troops would withdraw from Ramallah and Arafat would be allowed to leave his compound and move freely in the Palestinian areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Both sides approved the proposal on Sunday.

"This has been a hopeful day for the region, and we must continue to press forward to peace," Bush said.

Bush renewed his demand that all parties in the conflict -- the Israelis, Palestinians and Arab neighbors -- meet their "responsibilities" to help end the conflict, but imposed special demands on Arafat, who has been trapped inside his Ramallah compound for nearly a month.

Palestinian officials expect the siege imposed on Arafat's headquarters to be lifted Tuesday.

"Chairman Arafat should now seize this opportunity to act decisively in word and in deed against terror directed at Israeli citizens," Bush said. "He hasn't earned my respect. He must earn my respect by leading."

Bush said his door was open to world leaders who want to "bare their soul and discuss their plans for peace," but wouldn't extend the offer to Arafat.

Bush praised Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah, with whom the president met on his ranch Thursday, for presenting specific ideas on how to advance the peace process.