Washington — As Yasser Arafat was buried, President Bush raised hopes Friday for a Middle East peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state within four years, suggesting decades of distrust and frustration could be altered by the change of Palestinian leadership.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, standing alongside Bush at a White House news conference, joined in pledging to mobilize global support for Palestinian elections and creating the conditions for a democratic state.
"What we are saying is, we are going to work flat out to deliver this," Blair said.
"I'd like to see it done in four years," said Bush, referring to the length of his second term. "I think it is possible. I think it is possible." Bush originally set a goal of 2005 for a Palestinian state.
Crucial opportunity
The leader of the Palestinians over four decades, Arafat was regarded by the United States as the primary obstacle to peace with Israel. Bush refused even to meet with him. Arafat's death opens what many leaders believe is a crucial opportunity to break through anger and suspicion in the Middle East and lay the groundwork for Israel and a Palestinian state to live side by side without bloodshed.
Hopes for any breakthrough, however, are tempered by a history of failure after moments of promise.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's coffin is lowered to the grave at his burial site in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets Friday to lay Arafat to rest.
Bush said the outcome would be decided by the Palestinians. "If you want to be helped, here's what we're willing to do," the president said. "If you choose not to be helped, if you decide you don't want a free, democratic society, there's nothing we can do."
He passed up an opportunity to pressure Israel to revive negotiations or freeze the expansion of settlements.
Bush and Blair, steadfast allies in the war in Iraq, met privately over dinner Thursday and continued their discussions Friday before their news conference in the East Room. With British general elections expected next year, Blair has struggled against criticism that he simply follows Bush's orders as his "poodle."
When a reporter asked Bush if that were an accurate description, Blair joked, "Don't answer yes to that question." Bush praised him as steadfast and reliable and said, "He's a big thinker. He's got a clear vision. And when times get tough, he doesn't wilt."
Diplomacy
At a joint news conference Friday in Washington, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged their support for renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the development of a democratic Palestinian state.
Bush took the opportunity to announce he will visit Europe after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The trip is intended to repair relations with allies, upset by the Iraq war and what many perceive as Washington's go-it-alone approach on foreign policy.
Separately, Secretary of State Colin Powell expects to meet with new Palestinian leaders "soon," with discussions ongoing about time and place, a senior State Department official said Friday. One option is to tack a trip to the Middle East onto one of two extensive trips that Powell already has planned, the official said on condition on anonymity.
While pledging new efforts for Israeli-Palestinian peace, Bush refused to embrace Blair's proposal for a conference on the Middle East early next year, or calls for the appointment of a special envoy for the Middle East. Bush said he and Blair had a long discussion Thursday night about whether a conference would have meaningful results.
"We'll do that what it takes to put a strategy in place and advance it, and call upon other nations to work with us," the president said.
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