MJ Martin (15 Nov 2004)
"President Bush Postpones Target Date for Palestinian State..., Demands it be Democratic"

Bush Postpones Target Date for Palestinian state, Demands it be Democratic
Israeli-Insider ^ | 11/13/04

Bush postpones target date for Palestinian state, demands it be democratic
Israel Insider staff+partners 11/13/04
In a statement after meeting British PM Tony Blair, President Bush deferred the road map target for a Palestinian state by 3 years and conditioned its realization on Palestinian political reforms. According to the roadmap advanced by the "Quartet" of the US, EU, UN and Russia, there was to be a Palestinian state by 2005.
Speaking just after Yasser Arafat was buried amid a chaotic raging mob, President George W. Bush raised hopes Friday for a Middle East peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state within four years, suggesting decades of distrust and frustration could be altered by the change of Palestinian leadership.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, standing alongside Bush at a White House news conference, joined in pledging to mobilize global support for Palestinian elections and creating the conditions for a democratic state.
"What we are saying is, we are going to work flat out to deliver this," Blair said.
"I'd like to see it done in four years," said Bush, referring to the length of his second term. "I think it is possible. I think it is possible."
The leader of the Palestinians over four decades, Arafat was regarded by the United States as the primary obstacle to peace with Israel. Bush refused even to meet with him. Arafat's death opens what many leaders believe is a crucial opportunity to break through anger and suspicion in the Middle East and lay the the groundwork for Israel and a Palestinian state to live side by side without bloodshed.
Hopes for any breakthrough, however, are tempered by a history of failure after moments of promise. Bush said the outcome will be decided by the Palestinians. "If you want to be helped, here's what we're willing to do," the president said. "If you choose not to be helped, if you decide you don't want a free, democratic society, there's nothing we can do."