U.S. Mideast Policy Shift Angers Arabs; EU Is Wary

Thu Apr 15, 2004 12:44 PM ET

By Timothy Heritage

PARIS (Reuters) - Arab leaders condemned President
Bush's Middle East policy shift Thursday as a dangerous
move that could stir violence and the European Union
voiced concern that borders would be changed unilaterally.

Changing decades of U.S. policy, Bush Wednesday backed
plans by Israel to keep parts of the West Bank it has
occupied since 1967 and dismissed the right of Palestinian
refugees to return to what is now Israel.

The EU, which drew up an international peace "road map"
with the United States, avoided direct criticism of Bush. But
it said any border changes must be agreed with the
Palestinians and any peace deal must include a fair and just
deal for refugees.

more
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4840200