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Bush Defends Mideast Policy, Criticizes Arafat
CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug 13 (News Agencies) - U.S. President George W. Bush insisted Monday he is "working hard" to help forge Middle East peace and reprimanded Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for not doing "a lot more" to stop "terrorism".
"There's nothing that an [U.S.] administration can do if there's no will for peace," Bush said, again sounding his call for Israel and Palestinians to break the deadly cycle of violence that erupted last year.
The death toll since the Intifada, or uprising, began 10 months ago now stands at 716, including 549 Palestinians and 146 Israelis.
Asked what Arafat could do in the wake of two recent bombings, Bush replied: "I think he can do a lot more to be convincing the people on the street to stop these acts of terrorism and the acts of violence."
"I have said in the Oval Office it is very important for Mr. Arafat to show 100% effort, to do everything he can to convince the different parties on the West Bank and in Gaza to stop the violence," said the president.
"We recognize that there could be isolated incidences [sic] of terror. But these are not isolated. This is a continuing terrorist campaign," Bush told reporters as he played a round of golf not far from his ranch here.
The U.S. leader gave Israelis a mixed review on showing restraint in their responses to Palestinians bombings - "sometimes they haven't and sometimes they have" - and urged Europe and some Arab nations to endorse his call for both parties to break the cycle of violence.
Both Bush's and the U.S. State Department's criticism of Israel has been either muted or few and far between.
Bush also bristled at mounting criticism that he has neglected the region since taking office in January, replacing a predecessor who took a much more hands-on approach to Middle East peace efforts.
"We have been engaged in the Middle East ever since I got sworn in," he said. "The United States is doing everything in our power to convince the parties.
"But I want to remind people there must be the will: The people in the area must make the conscious decision to stop terrorism," said the president, who told reporters U.S. officials were in touch with both sides almost daily.
"Europe and the modern Arab nations must join with us to continue to send a consistent message that there will be no peace unless we break this cycle of violence," said Bush.
The president, who has met twice with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon since January, declined to say when he would invite Arafat to the White House.
"I will invite the respective parties to come and see me at the appropriate time," said Bush, who said violence would prevent progress on the blueprint for peace crafted by a committee led by former U.S. senator George Mitchell.
But repeating phraseology blaming Palestinians for events in the Middle East, Bush said, "it will be impossible to get into Mitchell or any other discussion about peace under the threat of terrorism."
"We've got a long way to go; I recognize that," he said. "Sometimes we see the will [to end violence] on the either side. And sometimes that cycle overcomes the will."
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