Pres. Bush to Submit Mideast Roadmap Once Palestinian PM in Place

In the stalled peace process, the president said in a Rose Garden appearance with Secretary of State Colin Powell, ”We have reached a hopeful moment for progress.”

“We expect that such a Palestinian prime minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon confirmation, the roadmap for peace will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Bush said.

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. Arafat announced that his choice for the position is moderate Mahmoud Abbas, who is widely known as Abu Mazen.

Mr. Bush said the new prime minister must have true authority to govern in order to function as a part of his plan.

“To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian prime minister must hold a position of real authority,” he said.

It is unclear what role the new prime minister will play in the Palestinian government. According to a 10-page draft bill obtained by the Associated Press, Arafat retains the power to fire the prime minister and remains the commander of the Palestinian security forces, while the prime minister is responsible for public order.

Mr. Bush also made demands of Israel, saying, “As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end.”

He called on both sides in the long Israeli-Palestinian conflict to “abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibility for peace.”

He added that “…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.”

Powell said on Thursday that the Bush administration would continue its pursuit of a “road map” devised in partnership with the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. It aims to create a Palestinian state by the year 2005, carved out of land that Israel has held for more than 35 years.

The United States has delayed release of the road map for months, first to allow Israeli elections to take place, then to allow Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form a new government.

The delay has drawn fire from Arab and European nations who urged the U.S. to move forward more quickly to stem violence between Israelis and Palestinians, instead of focusing exclusively on Iraq.

Reacting to today’s announcement, Palestinian cabinet member Saeb Erekat told Reuters that Mr. Bush needed to clarify whether the road map would be introduced for implementation or only for further discussion.

“We believe the road map must be introduced with a mechanism for immediate implementation,” Erekat told Reuters.

Erekat said steps the Palestinians have taken so far would create a position of prime minister “who is empowered and credible.”

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoni Peled, commenting on the president’s remarks, told Reuters Friday that “we see eye to eye with President Bush.”

“We share his vision and we are of the conviction that once there is a Palestinian prime minister with real powers who will begin fighting to stop terror, then Israel will be willing to begin discussing a solution,” Peled said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Bush’s key ally in the debate over disarming Iraq, has been urging Washington to push Israel and the Palestinians to find a peaceful resolution.

A strong U.S. initiative on Israel could help assuage European doubts about U.S. policy and help allies like Blair who face strong domestic criticism for backing the Bush administration’s Iraq plans. Blair, speaking after Mr. Bush made his remarks, said that he was committed to a Middle East peace settlement by 2005.

President Bush spoke with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II shortly before making his remarks.