DATE=04/07/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09809

TITLE=EDITORIAL: EXCERPTS FROM BUSH STATEMENT

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES. PLEASE NOTE CHANGES IN INTRODUCTION AND ENDING.

Anncr: Next, President George W. Bush speaks out on the crisis in the Middle East.

Voice: On April 4th, President George W. Bush said, "The recent Arab League support of [Saudi] Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative for peace is promising. . .because it acknowledges Israel's right to exist. And it raises the hope of sustained, constructive Arab involvement in the search for peace. This builds on a tradition of visionary leadership, begun by President [Anwar] Sadat [of Egypt] and King Hussein [of Jordan], and carried forward by [their successors] President [Hosni] Mubarak and King Abdullah."

"Now," said President Bush, "other Arab states must rise to this occasion and accept Israel as a nation and as a neighbor. Peace with Israel is the only avenue to prosperity and success for a new Palestinian state. The Palestinian people deserve peace and an opportunity to better their lives. They need their closest neighbor, Israel, to be an economic partner, not a mortal enemy. They deserve," said Mr. Bush, "a government that respects human rights and. . .focuses on their needs -- education and health care -- rather than feeding their resentments."

"It is not enough for Arab nations to defend the Palestinian cause," said President Bush. "They must truly help the Palestinian people by seeking peace and fighting terror and promoting development."

"Israel faces hard choices of its own," said Mr. Bush. "Its government has supported the creation of a Palestinian state that is not a haven for terrorism. Yet, Israel also must recognize that such a state needs to be politically and economically viable."

President Bush said, "Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories must stop. And the occupation must end through withdrawal to secure and recognized boundaries consistent with United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338. Ultimately, this approach should be the basis of agreements between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon."

"Israel," said Mr. Bush, "should also show a respect. . .for. . .the dignity of the Palestinian people who are and will be [its] neighbors. It is crucial to distinguish between the terrorists and ordinary Palestinians. . . . Israel should take immediate action to ease [border] closures and allow peaceful people to go back to work."

"America recognizes Israel's right to defend itself from terror," said President Bush. "Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace," he said, "Israel [should] halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied."

Anncr: President George W. Bush spoke out on the Middle East crisis on April 4th. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.