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Bush Decides to Focus on Palestinian Reform

(New York Sun)Eli Lake - After the death of Arafat, the Bush administration intends to press the next Palestinian leader to make key structural changes to insure the rule of law, effective counterterrorism, and transparency before reviving final-status negotiations with Israel. On Monday, the president's nominee for secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, promised that America would not send a new envoy or endorse a peace conference after the January 9 Palestinian elections. Last week, the national security council's senior adviser on the Middle East, Elliott Abrams, met with European ambassadors at the White House where he stressed the president's statement that an eventual final settlement would have to acknowledge Israel's claim to the territory on the West Bank that hosts the majority of settlements. An administration official familiar with the president's policy said Tuesday, "There will not be a round of shuttle diplomacy and there will not be efforts to push final status issues. But there will be increased diplomatic efforts to help the Palestinians succeed in their reforms and help Prime Minister Sharon succeed in the Gaza disengagement."
2004-12-02 00:00:00
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