Bush to announce plans for Palestinian state

WASHINGTON, 19 June — After a bout of intense infighting within his administration over its Middle East policy, President Bush will today propose the establishment of an interim Palestinian state. He is also expected to announce that Secretary of State Colin Powell will return to the region to push forward the Bush plan, which will also call for an international peace conference.

The full detail of what Bush will announce was last night still unclear and sources said this was an indication of the fierce dispute that has been taking place within the administration. Up until yesterday copies of the president’s proposed speech had not even been circulated for comment internally — a signal that the details were still being finalized.

“I think it is going to go down to the wire,” said one official.

Some details did emerge however, and the White House briefed reporters that Bush will announce his support for an interim arrangement with a Palestinian state of two parts — one completely under Palestinian control and the other under its governorship but with the presence of Israeli security forces.

In addition, Bush will propose an international conference — to include “moderate Arab states” — to discuss a more permanent solution, concentrating on proposals put forward by Saudi Arabia. He will also call for a reorganization of the Palestinian Authority — a move that Washington hopes would reduce the power and influence of the authority’s current leader, Yasser Arafat.

“I think there is a view that no-one believes Arafat — or indeed (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon — is going to take the thing forward but that for the moment he is there and you have to deal with him,” said the official.

Powell, who represents one end of the administration’s thinking in regard to the Middle East with Vice-President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the other, could return to the region as soon as next week. One senior US official said the decision to send Powell had been made in principle before yesterday’s suicide bombing but that Bush had not decided on the timing.

Bush touched on the topic only briefly yesterday, saying: “We believe in peace in the Middle East. We’re going to be steadfast in a vision that rejects terror and killing, and honors peace and hope.” (The Independent)