Abbas says burden of peace is on Israel

? Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas called on the Bush administration Thursday to “play its role forcefully” to get Israel to dismantle settlements on the West Bank and release up to 3,000 Palestinian prisoners.

In a preview of what he is likely to tell President Bush on Friday, Abbas said Israel “continues to grab Palestinian land” and the burden of maintaining a cease-fire against terrorist attacks rests on Israel’s shoulders.