DATE=03/12/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09757

TITLE=EDITORIAL: BUSH SENDS ENVOY TO MIDEAST

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government:

Voice: President George W. Bush is sending special envoy Anthony Zinni back to the Middle East to try to bring Israelis and Palestinians together "to reduce the violence, improve the security situation, and return to the path of peace." In recent weeks, Palestinians have carried out numerous terrorist attacks, including many suicide bombings of Israeli civilians. In response, Israeli forces have stepped up attacks on suspected terrorists and those thought to be supporting them. But along with terrorists and their supporters, Palestinian civilians have been killed.

President Bush stressed that he fully understands Israel's "wanting to defend herself. . . . After all," he said, "we're in defense of ourselves [against terrorism] right now." But Mr. Bush said, "There's got to be more than security. . .there's got to be an attempt to achieve a lasting peace. And I hope that my friend, [Israeli] Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon, agrees with that assessment. . . . I think he recognizes that you can't achieve peace by allowing violence to escalate or causing violence to escalate."

President Bush again called on Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, "to make a maximum effort to end terrorism against Israel." So far, said Mr. Bush, the U.S. does not believe that Chairman Arafat is "doing enough."

As Mr. Bush said, "There is a road map to peace. The Tenet. . .plan will bring parties together to reduce the violence [and] improve the security situation." Proposed by George Tenet, director of U.S. Central Intelligence, this plan, among other things, calls for an end to terrorist attacks, the arrest of all terrorists by the Palestinian Authority, and efforts to stop anti-Israel incitement in Palestinian media. For its part, Israel would pull its troops back from Palestinian population centers and ease travel restrictions on Palestinians.

The U.S. also welcomes the ideas of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which hold out the promise that all Arab countries would recognize Israel's right to exist once Israel and the Palestinians reach a settlement. As President Bush made clear at the United Nations in November, "there ought to be a Palestinian state -- the borders of which. . .ought to be negotiated between [Israel and the Palestinians] -- but both sides recognize each other's right to exist."

As President Bush said, the U.S. "has a vision of a Middle East in which all people -- Arabs and Israelis -- can live as neighbors, in full peace and security."

Anncr: That was an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government. 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.