06/27/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09970

BUSH ON MIDEAST PEACE

In a speech on June 24^th, President George W. Bush outlined his vision for Israel and the Palestinians -- "two states, living side by side in peace and security." For this to come about, he said, "the Palestinian people [must] elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror." Mr. Bush said that Palestinians must "build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty."

Israel also has challenges to meet. As progress is made toward security, said President 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."

Arab states must also act. As President Bush said, "Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media, and publicly denounce homicide bombings. Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money, equipment, and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel -- including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Every nation actually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to these groups, and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq. And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations."

Leaders in the region, said President Bush, "must show by their deeds an undivided support for peace. And as we move forward toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world."

For decades, President Bush said to the Palestinian people, "you’ve been treated as pawns in the Middle East conflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a comprehensive peace agreement that never seems to come, as your lives get worse year by year. [Palestinians] deserve democracy and the rule of law. You deserve an open society and a thriving economy. You deserve a life of hope for your children."

As President Bush said, "If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe who are equally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled to the benefits of democratic government."