Bush calls for end of ‘occupation’ of Arab lands

Bush tempered his optimism about reaching a peace accord with harsh words about Hamas, the Islamic militant group that seized control of Gaza in June and set itself up as a rival Palestinian government in that tiny coastal territory to Abbas' Fatah-led government in the West Bank.

"Gaza is a tough situation," Bush acknowledged. "I don't know whether you can solve it in a year or not."

He said Hamas was elected to help improve the lives of Palestinians, but "has delivered nothing but misery."

"The question is whether or not hard issues can be resolved and the vision emerges, so that the choice is clear amongst the Palestinians," Bush said. "The choice being, `Do you want this state? Or do you want the status quo? Do you want a future based upon a democratic state? Or do you want the same old stuff?"'

U.S. donating $40 million
In Washington, the State Department announced that the United States would make an initial 2008 donation of $40 million to the U.N agency that assists the more than four million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It said in a statement that more contributions would be made throughout the year.

In both Jerusalem and Ramallah, Bush prodded Arab governments to stand with Abbas.

"The Arab world has got an opportunity and obligation, in my judgment, to help both parties in these negotiations move the process forward," said Bush, who leaves Jerusalem Friday for stops in Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Despite Bush's attempts to show Palestinians he is on their side, too, his West Bank visit generated little excitement among the populace. Doubts are high in the territories about his promises to pursue peace.

"Bush won't help us," said Habib Hussein, 54, sipping tea at a Ramallah cafe. A few Palestinians braved heavy security to try to demonstrate against Bush. But Palestinian police swinging clubs waded into the small crowd. Palestinian police also detained two people passing out anti-Bush leaflets before he stopped in at the traditional birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Abbas, however, said at Bush's side that his visit "gives our people great hope."

The Palestinian leader urged Israel to fulfill its commitments under a 2003 U.S.-backed Mideast peace plan, known as the roadmap. It calls on Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank, while requiring the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups. Neither side has fully carried out its obligations.

Bush also named Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to monitor steps that both sides are making to move forward on the roadmap requirements. "It's one of the positive signs of the visit," said Mohammed Mustafa, economic adviser to Abbas.

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