US Says Israeli Siege of Arafat 'Unhelpful'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 24, 2002

US Says Israeli Siege of Arafat 'Unhelpful'

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Snubbing Israel for its continued siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the White House said Monday that the Israeli action is "unhelpful" and hampers the Middle East peace and Palestinian reforms.

"The President (George W. Bush) views what Israel is doing now as unhelpful to the cause of bringing about reform in Palestinian institutions," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told a regular briefing.

"The President's priority is peace. Peace is best secured by new Palestinian institutions, and what Israel is doing is running contrary to that cause and is not helpful," the spokesman added.

Fleischer said the Palestinian institutional reforms, including a sweeping change in Palestinian leadership as demanded by President Bush in his Middle East peace plan unveiled in June, is a key to the solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He said that the Bush administration has communicated its message to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Israeli troops launched an attack on Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah last week to retaliate a fresh wave of Palestinian suicide bombings and are continuing a siege on the compound. Many buildings around the compound have been destroyed by Israelis forces over the past few days.

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