WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush announced Friday that he would unveil his long-sought "road map" for Middle East peace once a new Palestinian prime minister with real governing authority takes office.
"We have reached a hopeful moment for progress," in the stalled peace process, Bush said in a Rose Garden appearance.
He called on both sides in the long Israel-Palestinian conflict to "abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibility for peace."
He said the "road map" would set forth a sequence of steps, "goals shared by all the parties."
Bush spoke Friday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II shortly before his remarks.
The Palestinian legislature earlier this week passed legislation creating the new prime minister's post, one that would require Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to share power. Arafat has asked for several changes which the legislature is expected to vote on early next week.
"To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian prime minister must hold a position of real authority," Bush said. "We expect that such a ... prime minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon confirmation, the road map for peace will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis."
"The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace," Bush said.
The White House believes the Palestinian council will name a prime minister as early as next week. A senior administration official said that if the appointee was deemed credible by the U.S., Bush would move quickly to unveil his plan.
Bush issued a challenge to both sides in the dispute.
"The government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable and credible Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement," he said.
"As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end," he declared.
"And the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine and state clearly that they will live in peace with Israel."
Bush made the announcement in the Rose Garden, standing alongside Secretary of State Colin Powell. The president declined to answer questions.
am besten gefällt mir ,dass er diese Ankündigung zum angeblichen Frieden in Palästina im Rosengarten des Weissen Hauses machte ,begleitet von Colin Powell
fehlt nur noch die unterdrückte Rührung in der Stimme!
