DATE=10/6/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-308306

TITLE=BUSH / MIDEAST (S)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush says Israel has the right to defend itself in response to terrorist attacks like the suicide bombing that killed 19 people at a restaurant Saturday in Haifa. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports from the White House Mr. Bush is again calling on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be cautious about the consequences of such actions.

TEXT: Mr. Bush stopped short of criticizing Israel for its air strike deep into Syria, against what Israel says was a terrorist training camp in response to Saturday's bombing in Haifa. The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the Haifa attack.

During a press conference with visiting Kenya President Mwai Kibaki, Mr. Bush says he told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Israel must not feel constrained in defending itself, but should avoid doing anything that would raise tensions in the region even further.

President Bush also pointed out that Palestinian attacks only serve to undermine their goal of achieving statehood.

/// BUSH ACT ///

People have got to assume responsibility. All parties must assume responsibility. The Palestinian Authority must defeat the terrorists who are trying to stop the establishment of a Palestinian state, a peaceful state.

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That is the goal of a U-S backed Roadmap for Peace. But the plan has suffered setbacks in recent months because of a series of suicide bombings in Israel and Israel's refusal to halt settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. (SIGNED)

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