Palestinian State To Be Announced At Summit -- Other Headlines

DEBKAfile

4 June 2003

In separate declarations ending Aqaba summit later Wednesday, Sharon will announce Israel’s acceptance of interim Palestinian state, Abbas will promise to implement Middle East road map after backing away from declaration ending Palestinian armed confrontation

After meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders separately, Bush presides over trilateral summit at King Abdullah’s summer palace

An inadvertently open Egyptian mike at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit Tuesday points to Bush stance at his Aqaba meeting Wednesday with Sharon and Abbas. Israel has got responsibilities to deal with settlements, he told five Arab rulers, “make sure there is continuous territory Palestinians can call home.”

Giving personal commitment to establishing a Palestinian state “that is free and at peace”, he declared “We can’t allow a few killers, terrorists to destroy the dream and hope of many.” Turning to Abu Mazen, Bush said: “You, sir, have a responsibility. You have assumed it.”

DEBKAfile reports: After Bush departed Sharm al-Sheikh Tuesday, his 5 Arab co-summiteers issued negative statement.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Palestinian Authority voiced support for Arafat as elected Palestinian president and endorsed Palestinians right of return to pre-1948 lands, with no mention of need to halt terror and Palestinian armed confrontation.

Palestinian dep. foreign minister Ali Sadeq: The present at Arab-American summit was the head of thye American snake that invaded Iraq and is dispossessing Palestinian and Arab nations

Bush left Sharm al-Sheikh with upbeat message: Five Arab rulers reject terrorism and agree to cut off arms and financing to any terrorist groups. US president repeated his commitment to help all parties reach hard decisions that will lead to Middle East peace.

He called on Arab leaders to help Palestinian Authority combat terror. If progress in war on terror, the US is committed to two states living side by side, Palestinians with dignity and Israelis with security, by 2005