Washington, Sept 23: US President George W Bush has warned that there will be no Palestinian state unless the Palestinian leadership fights terrorism. "I believe it's in everybody's interest that there be a Palestinian state," Bush told a private news channel yesterday. "But it will not happen so long as the interlocutor, the so-called representative of the people, won't fight terror." He added that the problem with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was his reluctance to do just that.

Middle East politics were thrown into turmoil early this month, when Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas resigned in frustration with his inability to implement desired reforms and move the stalled regional peace process forward.

Arafat nominated Ahmed Qorei to replace Abbas, but massive demonstrations of support prompted by Israeli threats to deport or assassinate Arafat showed the Palestinian leader remained a force to be reckoned with.
However, bush reiterated us determination not to deal with Arafat.

"No question Arafat has failed," he said. "The Palestinians have suffered under his leadership, and hopefully new leaders will emerge that will be committed to peace, willing to fight terror, and out of that will come a Palestinian state."


But the President expressed opposition to suggestions to forcibly remove Arafat through intervention from outside.
"In America, we believe in getting rid of people through a peaceful, orderly process," he said. "And the Palestinian people should make that decision by getting a government that represents their will."

Bureau Report