Bush sees progress in Middle East

AP Diplomatic WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said Thursday that important progress is being made in ending the violent standoff in the Middle East and declared that Israel must negotiate an end to its "occupation" of Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

Bush, speaking after meetings with European leaders, also had a message for the Palestinians, telling them the nation that Americans and Europeans want to help them build must denounce terrorism.

"A Palestinian state must be achieved by negotiating an end to occupation, but such a state cannot be based on a foundation of terror or corruption," Bush said.

Bush said he expects more progress when he meets in Washington next week with Mideast leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Bush cited several recent signs of progress in the Middle East, including a deal the United States helped broker to end Israel's siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at his compound in Ramallah. The president said work continues toward ending another standoff between the Palestinians and Israelis at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

"I'm optimistic we're making good progress," Bush said. "After all a week ago, Yasser Arafat was boarded up in this building in Ramallah. ... He's now free to show leadership."

Bush said people across the Middle East, including Arab leaders, "are beginning to assume responsibilities, and that's why I'm optimistic."

At the same time, Bush said much remains to be done, and called on Arafat to "show he can lead" and denounce terrorism. "Of course, that places responsibilities on Israel as well," Bush said.

Bush said he had been especially encouraged by his recent meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who U.S. officials say is now working closely with the United States to try to resolve the Mideast crisis.

"I'm absolutely convinced it's going to require the efforts of the Saudis and Jordanians and Egyptians to try to cement a lasting peace," Bush said.

Earlier Thursday, Bush's spokesman gave a mild reprimand to Arafat for condemning Israel as "terrorists, Nazis and racists" and said it would be better for all sides to focus on peace issues. Emerging from Israeli house arrest, and hearing of a skirmish at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Arafat angrily accused Israel of willfully damaging the shrine.

"The president thinks the important step for all... parties is for them to now ask themselves what can they do to bring peace to the region, not what can they do to speak ill of others," Fleischer said when a reporter asked about Arafat's salvo.

The Bush administration had expected an agreement to end Israel's siege, but a monthlong standoff at the church, where terror suspects are believed to be holed up, may set that back.

Israeli troops fired at Palestinians walking from the besieged compound into Manger Square, killing one and wounding at least two who staggered back into the shrine, the army said. Palestinians returned fire.

"It's hard to assess all the facts of things that developed very rapidly on the ground," Fleischer said cautiously. "As far as the president's concerned, the violence in Bethlehem is another reason why it's so important to continue the efforts that have been made to bring peace to the region."

Fleischer also reiterated Thursday that the administration was seeking a cease-fire at the same time as a political settlement. For months, Bush sought the cease-fire as a condition of advancing political talks.

"I think what you're seeing already is an integration of security as well as political talks as a way to do both," Fleischer said. "They're both vital to bringing peace to the Middle East. It's hard to have peace in the region if there is violence. It's easier to have a comprehensive solution or interim solutions if there is less violence. And so, the two go very well together."

Sharon, who will see President Bush on Tuesday, is bound to be pressed to follow up his forces' pullout of Ramallah that released Arafat from five months' confinement in the West Bank city by moving forward on a Saudi peace proposal.

Jordan's Abdullah, due to meet Monday with Secretary of State Colin Powell and with Bush on Wednesday, is pushing a similar plan. In Amman on Wednesday, Abdullah said: "We must work for putting an end to the (Israeli occupation) and establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." Like the Saudis, the king wants Israel to give up the West Bank, Gaza and part of Jerusalem, territory it captured in the Six-Day War of 1967, in exchange for promises of peace and recognition.

Sharon has a far more limited approach. While he has agreed with Bush on statehood for the Palestinians, he is conditioning the offer on a long, interim period of security and an end to terror.

Bush has embraced the Saudi "vision" but not all the details, several of which could prove to be deal-breakers.

------On the Net:

State Department's Near East desk: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/