US President George Bush has every reason for rejoicing. He has won another four-year term. But he must not dismiss concerns and fears associated with the domestic and foreign policies pursued by his administration throughout the past four years.

Among the most serious challenges he would face during his new term is a divided America. Bush has to reconcile with the other half of the American people who did not vote for him and must know that he won only 51 percent of the votes with Kerry taking 48 percent.

The economy is another concern. Bust must work to revive the economy. US growth rates have been falling ever since he took over. The two wars Bush launched have exhausted the American Treasury.

On foreign policy, I think Bush would face major challenging in three areas: The Euro-American relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the fight against international terrorism.

US-European relations should be of interest to the Arab region too since Europe has historic links with the region, especially with the Middle and Near East.

The other issue of great concern to the region is the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is the central Arab cause that continues to cast a shadow on countries of the region as well as on Arab-American relations. The question is: Can Bush after his re-election announce the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, can he set a deadline for the withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq and can he commit himself and his administration they would not wage a third war against any country in the region?

When he offered his road map as a final solution to the Palestinian cause and consequently the Arab-Israeli conflict, Bush said he was committed to the creation of an independent Palestinian state that lives side by side with the Jewish state. In his first speech after re-election he repeated the theme and even added that the establishment of a stable and secure Palestinian state would be in the interest of Israel.

It must be said that the Arabs have a strong desire for peace but they fear that the right-wing administration in the US and Bush’s advisers may continue their blind support for Israel despite its continuous violation of international law and its defiance of the world community. Arabs fear that such blind support would allow Ariel Sharon to bury the road map forever — forcing every one to look for a start from the scratch plunging the region into a vicious circle. They fear that Arab rights may end up being compromised.

Arabs are concerned over the continuous presence of foreign forces in Iraq and the agenda set for that country which seeks to split it into small entities, incite animosity among its people while using maximum force against them and plundering Iraq’s resources.

Arabs are also concerned over the American policy that heightened tension in the region by threatening Syria, Sudan and Iran and seeking to impose made-in-America political systems which run counter to Arab countries’ religious beliefs and historical realities.

We do hope that Bush’s second term would see America being engaged more effectively and fairly in world politics and being more committed to upholding the international law, especially when addressing the Palestinian cause. In the fight against terrorism there is no alternative to the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations whose decisions should be binding on every country in the world. The conference must clearly differentiate between those who fight against foreign occupation and for national liberation and terrorists and must admit that any unilateral action by one country to fight terrorism is doomed to fail.

Bush must know that the Arab people used to view America as a country of great opportunities but such view has changed over the past years as a result of America’s total identification with Israel in its unjustified wars of aggression. Arab people forgive those who do them injustice and reconcile with their enemies when they act in good faith. It remains to be seen whether Bush would succeed in utilizing these Arab virtues and goodness.