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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61029-2003Dec12.html
U.S. Urges Israel to "Make Life Better for Palestinians"
(Washington Post) - In a State Department meeting with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Friday, Secretary of State Colin Powell talked of the need for reciprocal steps while emphasizing what Israel could do on its own to "make life better for ordinary Palestinians," department spokesman Richard Boucher said. Powell spoke of increasing the number of work permits for Palestinians and creating jobs and trade opportunities. "All parties must fight off terror," President Bush said Friday. The Palestinians have to find new leadership, he said, and Israel must avoid decisions that hinder the chances of creating a Palestinian state. Bush said the peace process is "stalled" because former Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas was "shoved aside." He called for a Palestinian leadership that "believes in peace."