Bush Expects Israelis to Begin Withdrawal Now: Rice

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 08, 2002

Bush Expects Israelis to Begin Withdrawal Now: Rice

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A senior aide to U.S. President George W. Bush said on Sunday that Bush understands the Israelis' difficulties to immediately pull out its forces from Palestinian areas, but he does expect they start the process.

"While he does expect Israel to begin the withdrawal without delay, he understands that it can't be helter-skelter and chaotic. But he does expect this withdrawal to begin," Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice told CNN's "Late Edition."

At a joint press conference with the visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair at his Texas ranch and during a 20-minute telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Saturday, Bush called on Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank without delay.

However, a statement issued by Sharon's office justified continued Israeli military operations by saying Israel was operating in difficult conditions in the West Bank towns and villages.

"There are a great deal of weapons, explosives and armed terrorists," the statement said without mentioning when the operations would end.

But Rice noted "the important point is to begin now. Without delay. Not tomorrow, not when Secretary Powell gets to the region, but now."

She said the Bush's message was clear that "it is time to begin the withdrawal and to change the dynamics of this situation, because the foundations for peace are somewhat in danger here."

Questions?Comments? Click here

Bush Urges Immediate Israeli Pullout, Calls for Arab Support

>> Full Coverage

/TD>