Bush Changes Course, Endorses Israel Plan

Bush Changes Course, Endorses Israel Plan
31 minutes ago
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - Breaking with long-standing U.S. policy, President Bush on Wednesday endorsed Israel's retention of part of the West Bank in any final peace settlement with the Palestinians. In a show of support for Israel's leader that brought immediate condemnation from the Palestinians, Bush also ruled out Palestinian refugees ever returning to Israel.

An elated Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) said his plan would create "a new and better reality for the state of Israel."

But minutes after Bush spoke, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said in Ramallah that "he is the first president who has legitimized the (Israeli) settlements in Palestinian territories."

Qureia added: "We as Palestinians reject that. We cannot accept that. We reject it and we refuse it." Separately, anticipating what Bush would say, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had earlier called it "the complete end of the peace process."

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