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Bush "Rides Herd" on Israel

(Ha'aretz) - Akiva Eldar According to one of the participants in the three-way meeting at Aqaba, a lot can be learned about the swinging American pendulum from the Israeli side to the Palestinian side. According to the source, Dahlan gave an excellent five-minute synopsis of the security situation, and concluded by saying to Bush: "But we will need help." At the end of Dahlan's presentation Defense Minister Mofaz said: "They won't be getting any help from us; they have their own security service." You could see that Bush was irritated, says the participant, and he turned on Mofaz angrily: "Their own security service? But you have destroyed their security service." Mofaz shook his head and said: "I do not think that we can help them, Mr. President" - to which Bush said: "Oh, but I think that you can. And I think that you will." Abbas outlined the economic situation of the territories, saying that the insertion of new funding was necessary. Sharon then interrupted and said: "The insertion of new funding must be dependent on your good behavior." Bush was again visibly irritated: "You should release their money as soon as possible. This will help the situation." Sharon shook his head: "We have to deal with security first, and we will condition the release of their monies on this alone." Bush interrupted him: "It is their money, give it to them." After that meeting, Bush turned to National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and said, "We have a problem with Sharon I can see, but I like that young man [Dahlan] and I think their prime minister is incapable of lying. I hope that they will be successful. We can work with them."
2003-06-10 00:00:00
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