(New York Times) Steven R. Weisman - The Bush administration has rebuffed appeals from President Jacques Chirac and other Europeans to adopt a plan next week establishing a Palestinian state in three years, administration officials said Thursday. European officials said they had hoped the U.S. would be willing to publish and adopt a document on creating a Palestinian state when diplomats from Europe, Russia, and the UN meet on Dec. 20 in Washington. However, the administration says the plan, called a "road map," is not ready for adoption. Some officials say that the administration would most likely make a renewed and concerted push on a Palestinian-Israeli negotiation next year, after the Israeli elections - and after a war in Iraq. Many say it is impractical for Europeans to expect much progress before then.
2002-12-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive