The Palestinians are discontented with U.S. President George W. Bush’s remarks to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Clearly referring to Palestinian Chairman Yassir Arafat, Bush said, “the Palestinian cause is betrayed by leaders who cling to power by feeding old hatreds, and destroying the good work of others,” and added that the Palestinian people deserve their own state and will achieve this by embracing new leaders committed to reform, fighting terror and building peace.
Palestinian Labor Minister Ghasan Al-Khatib said Bush is not serving the democratic interest while failing to differentiate between a president who holds fast to the leadership by way of elections and between those who obtain power through other methods. Khatib told Reuters that, “the worst part of the remarks was they support Israel to continue the debasing of Palestinian rights and their leadership.”
“Israeli policy is hindering the implementation of the American president’s vision to build a Palestinian state,” said ‘Saib ‘Ariqat, head of the Palestinian negotiating bureau, to Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam. “It’s time to turn Bush’s vision for building a Palestinian state into a practical diplomatic path.” He added that the settlement activities, the fence construction, confiscating land, demolishing houses, continuing the occupation and violating human rights are all stamping out the Road Map, ruining any chance for a Palestinian state and are blinding Bush’s vision.
‘Ariqat stressed that the Palestinian people take pride in their genuine democratic base. He also insinuated that Israel has a negative impact on both Bush’s policies and the Palestinian desire for democracy. “The policy of renewing the occupation, the siege and curfew are hindering the chance of holding elections…we have requested from the United States a number of times to help us provide the suitable atmosphere for conducting democratic and liberal elections,” said ‘Ariqat.