[size=4]Bush Calls on Israel to Stop Incursions[/size=4]
April 04, 2002 11:13 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Thursday called on Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas as he began shifting U.S. policy to increase pressure on the Israelis to do its part to stop Middle East violence.
Bush, in a White House Rose Garden speech that followed a barrage of international criticism at the U.S. role, also said Syria and Iran must "stay out" of the Middle East conflict to avoid widening it.
And he called on the Palestinians to stop suicide bombings, saying "suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."
Bush repeated Israel's right to defend itself but added, [b]"Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied."[/b]
U.S. sources said he would also announce he was sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East to try to end a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence.
See article at:[url]http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=775623[/url]
Eric The(WhatThe...?)Hun[>]:)]