06/26/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09969

BUSH ON PALESTINIAN DEMOCRACY

President George W. Bush has called for a democratic Palestinian state living "side by side" with Israel "in peace and security." But such a state, Mr. Bush said on June 24^th, "will never be created by terror -- it will be built through reform . . . . True reform will require entirely new political and economic institutions, based on democracy, market economics, and action against terrorism."

Today, said President Bush, "Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing, terrorism. This is unacceptable. And the United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure."

President Bush called "on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. [He called on] them to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals," he said, "America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence."

Today, said Mr. Bush, "the elected Palestinian legislature has no authority, and power is concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few. A Palestinian state can only serve its citizens with a new constitution which separates the powers of government." President Bush said the U.S. "will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new constitutional framework and a working democracy for the Palestinian people."

President Bush challenged "Israel to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state." As he made clear, "Permanent occupation threatens Israel’s identity and democracy."

As progress is made toward Palestinian democracy, said Mr. Bush, "Israeli forces need to withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28^th, 2000. And.. .Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop. The Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violence subsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting innocent Palestinians to resume work and a normal life."

As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders evolve, Mr. Bush said he expects "Israel to respond and work toward a final status agreement." Now is the time, said President Bush, "to lay the foundations" for peace in the Middle East.