Bush Promises an Independent Palestinian State within 3 Years If a New Leader is Elected

The US President George W. Bush announced on June 24 that the United States would support the foundation of an independent Palestinian state within three years if Palestine elected a new government and if Israel withdrew from the territory it had occupied since 1967.

In his speech made in the White House, President Bush said, “Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership so that a Palestinian state can be born”, adding, “I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror”. This statement, in fact, was the demand for the removal of the Palestinian leader Yasir Araft.

The US administration officials said that a provisional Palestinian state will be probably established in one year and a half followed by the final settlement of an independent Palestinian state within 3 years from now.

Mr. Bush demanded that all the attacks against Israel and military counterattacks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were brought to an end. He also emphasized that Israel and the neighboring Arab nations should stop providing financial and human support to terrorist groups.

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com