Jerusalem, June 25: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called for new Palestinian leadership, echoing US President George W. Bush, but senior Palestinian officials insisted that was a decision only the Palestinian people can make. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat welcomed bush`s ideas speech as a "serious effort to push the peace process forward" in an official statement that ignored the US President`s calls for new Palestinian leadership.

Israel praised US President George W. Bush`s speech yesterday calling for a new Palestinian leadership, but senior Palestinian officials insisted that was a decision only the Palestinian people can make.

Saeb Erekat, an aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, said that "President Arafat was elected by the Palestinian people in a direct election ... And President Bush must respect the choice of the Palestinian people." A statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon`s office after bush`s speech said that "when the Palestinian authority undergoes genuine reforms and a new leadership takes it place at its head... It will be possible to discuss ways of moving forward by diplomatic means."
Bureau Report