Bush says Israel should pull back

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure to curb Middle East violence, President Bush urged Israel on Thursday to pull its troops back from Palestinian cities and dismissed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a failed leader who "betrayed the hopes of his people." He ordered Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region next week seeking a cease-fire.

With Powell standing at his side in the Rose Garden, Bush pressed Arab leaders to do more to end terrorism and emulate the peacemaking traditions begun by the late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan and carried forward by their successors, Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah.

"As Israel steps back, responsible Palestinian leaders and Israel's Arab neighbors must step forward and show the world that they are truly on the side of peace," Bush said in a new push for peace.

"The choice and the burden will be theirs."

U.S.-led peace effort

The remarks, particularly his call for an Israeli retreat, marked a shift in U.S. policy and thrust Bush deeper than ever into the Mideast crisis -- exposing him to risk of embarrassment if Powell's mission fails. Apparently determining that inaction carried a greater risk, Bush sought Thursday to spread blame and issue challenges evenly between the parties.

As Bush spoke, Mubarak urged the administration to "exert its maximum effort" to secure an Israeli withdrawal. In an address to his nation, Mubarak said Israel's military campaign will create hatred among 300 million Arabs.

The Mideast crisis was sure to dominate Bush's weekend meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the president's ranch near Crawford, Texas.

Discussions under way

Arafat and his Cabinet issued a statement early Friday unconditionally accepting the renewed U.S. effort, but Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat rejected Bush's criticism of Arafat as "unjustified and unacceptable."

While invoking a "right to defend ourselves" against "this aggression against our people, against our towns, our refugee camps," the Cabinet statement said: "From our side, we are committed without conditions to the declaration of President Bush."

Powell called Arafat and discussed Bush's proposals, said Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh. He said Arafat accepted the proposals.

Israel's Foreign Ministry welcomed Powell's visit and promised "to do everything so that his mission will be successful."

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer issued a separate statement offering cooperation in ending the violence but adding, "In the absence of a true willingness to do the same on the Palestinian side, Israel will continue in its actions to stop terror."

There was no immediate reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, although Sharon agreed to permit a U.S. envoy to meet with the besieged Arafat. U.S. officials said they had reason to believe Israel would soon comply with Bush's request.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed Powell's Mideast mission and demanded an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities "without delay."

On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., welcomed Bush's announcement, saying, "After months of violence, this initiative is rightly focused on results."

However, another Democrat, Rep. Anthony D. Weiner of New York, called Powell's visit "a bow to the bombers."

The violence has threatened to undercut Bush's anti-terrorism coalition and to delay any plans to move against Iraq or other nations accused of harboring terrorists.

Bush warned Syria and Iran against inciting more terrorism.

"To those who would try to use the current crisis as an opportunity to widen the conflict: Stay out," Bush said.

Senior administration officials said Bush decided that last week's suicide bombings coupled with Israel's strong military response compelled him to restate his public views and add to them.

The call for an Israeli retreat was a shift in U.S. policy that has evolved on the fly.

Just five days ago, he defended the storming of Arafat's compound, saying of the Israelis: "They're under attack." That same day, the administration backed a U.N. resolution calling on Israel to withdraw its troops.

Even as he sharpened his stance toward Israel, the president criticized Arafat on Thursday in harsher-than-usual terms. U.S. officials sent several signals that Bush's patience with Arafat may be running out.

With Arafat's headquarters under siege, Bush said, "The situation in which he finds himself today is largely of his own making. He has missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of his people."

Israel launched "Operation Defensive Shield" last Friday to crush Palestinian militias that have carried out deadly attacks on Israeli civilians, now including seven suicide bombings in the past week.

Israeli forces have taken over six West Bank towns and cities and have arrested more than 1,100 Palestinians.

"I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied," Bush said.

He also urged Israel to stop building settlements in Palestinian areas and "show a respect for -- and concern about -- the dignity of the Palestinian people." He said closed border crossings should be opened to allow for a freer flow of Palestinians.

Officials said Bush purposely did not mention a timetable for Israel's withdrawal or for an end to settlements, which Israel had conditionally agreed to as part of the derailed peace process.

Powell's mission could expose Bush to the risk of failure, but U.S. officials suggested they had reason to believe Israel would not snub his request to pull back. Bush aides said that optimism was based, in part, on Israeli statements that the military offensives were temporary and on conversations between U.S. and Israeli officials before Bush's speech.

Bush urged Arab leaders to curb terrorism, disrupt terrorist financing and "stop inciting violence by glorifying terror in state-owned media or telling suicide bombers they are martyrs."

By turning to Arab countries for help, Bush was tacitly acknowledging that Arafat had failed to stop terrorism and was unlikely to succeed alone, senior officials said. There were other signs that Bush was casting about for an alternative to Arafat, such as Powell's plans to talk to other Palestinian leaders during his trip.