Bush Asks World Leaders To Cut Ties To Arafat

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US President George W. Bush asked world leaders here to end all support for any Palestinian leader who "fails his people and betrays their cause," a lightly veiled reference to Yasser Arafat.
Bush made his remarks in a speech to the UN General Assembly that called on Palestinian leaders and Arab states to renounce ties to terrorism but also urged Israel to impose a freeze on settlements in Palestinian territories.
"And world leaders should withdraw all favor and support from any Palestinian ruler who fails his people and betrays their cause," Bush said. He did not explicitly name Arafat, whom he has tried to exclude from the peace process.
Israel must freeze its settlements in Palestinian territories, dismantle unauthorized outposts and end the "daily humiliation" of the Palestinian people, Bush said.
Bush called on the Palestinian leaders and Arab states to renounce ties to terrorist groups. But he also put a heavy load on Israel, the traditional US ally.
"Israel should impose a settlement freeze, dismantle unauthorized outposts, end the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people and avoid any actions that pressure this final negotiations," Bush said.