Bush Expresses Cautious Approval of Convergence Plan
Excerpts;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said after his meeting with US President George W. Bush in the White House that he was “very satisfied” with the understanding reached concerning his plan for possible unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.
In a briefing for Israeli reporters after the meeting, Olmert stressed that Bush’s remarks about his plan, in which the president called Olmert’s ideas “bold” and “important steps towards peace,” were made in a “very clear and remarkable way,”
Members of Olmert’s team noted that although the president did not completely endorse the “realignment” plan, Bush did treat it in a positive light and acknowledge it as a possible avenue in the future.
“Our preferred option, of course, is there to be a negotiated settlement,” Bush said at a chummy news conference with Olmert. “On the other hand, as the prime minister said, that if he is unable to find a partner in peace, if nothing can go forward, he is willing to think about ways to advance the process forward.”
“No country can be expected to make peace with those who deny its right to exist, and who use terror to attack its population,” Bush said.
Earlier Tuesday, diplomatic sources said that the United States will seek international support before endorsing Olmert’s plan for unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank, diplomatic sources in Washington said on Tuesday night, stressing that Bush was not yet ready to adopt the unilateral Israeli move, though he did not oppose it.
Commentary;
But this is Olmert’s spin on President Bush’s deliberately vague wording and statements regarding ‘convergence.’ The President does not appearparticularly enthusiastic about the “convergence’ idea. And does the US know the true extent of the price-tag in $ USD that Olmert’s asking? Olmert’s still got a long way to go to convince President Bush and his changeable policy makers. MB
More background on the Olmert/Bush Meeting and New Conference:
The U.S. Stance on Olmert’s Plan: Distant
Bush Vague on Support for Settlement Blocs
IMRA Commentary on the Olmert/Bush News Conference and news Conference Text;
No surprise here: The United States won’t stop Israel from bulldozing Jewish communities – but warns that just because Mr. Olmert bulldozes some communities doesn’t mean Israel can keep the ones it doesn’t bulldoze. That’s up to the deal Israel ultimately strikes with the Palestinians. And when pressed to say more Mr. Bush refers to the letter he wrote before in which he also noted that final borders were up to the Israelis and Palestinians to work out between them.