- JERUSALEM (AFP) -- US President
George W. Bush told an Israeli journalist that "we must get rid of"
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the mass-circulation Yediot Aharonot
daily has reported.
-
- Bush's comments came in a brief exchange with the paper's
correspondent during a Christmas drinks party in Washington, several hours
after a keynote speech by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday
in which he outlined plans for unilateral disengagement from peace negotiations
with the Palestinians.
-
- The US government has boycotted Arafat with Bush accusing
the veteran leader of failing the Palestinian people.
-
- Israel has also shunned the 74-year-old, branding him
an absolute obstacle to peace and confining him to his West Bank headquarters
for more than two years.
-
- Israel's security cabinet approved Arafat's "removal"
in September, with one minister even suggesting that he could be assassinated,
but Washington warned Israel not to attempt to expel him.
-
- Bush was non-commital about Sharon's speech, saying that
he would wait to see what happened on the ground.
-
- "Speeches are good things, but they are words. I
am waiting for action," he was quoted as saying.
-
- "Now is the time to do a lot in the Middle East,
and I am determined and committed to doing that. You can be sure that I
have done a lot until now, but I am going to keep on doing. I am going
to continue to be active and committed to my vision."
-
- Copyright © 2003 MCN International Pte Ltd. All
Rights Reserved.
-
- http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/62996/1/.html
|
