Bush wants provisional state in Gaza

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By Ryan Jones
September 21, 2005

For US President George W. Bush the birth of Palestine is a phased affair, and it begins now in the Gaza Strip.

According to Arab sources quoted by the London-based Arabic daily al-Quds al-Arabi, Bush is using US envoys in the region to pressure the Palestinian Authority into setting up a fully functional local government in Gaza and declaring statehood there.

The American sees post-Israeli withdrawal Gaza as a test case for both the PA's ability and willingness to effectively govern and impose law and order.

Bush reportedly said as much when he met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in New York last week.

If the ?Palestinians? fail to prove themselves in Gaza, ?the Americans will regard the continuation of the [peace] process as doubtful,? Sharon told reporters after the meeting.

PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia recently rejected the idea of a provisional state in Gaza, claiming Israel will use Gaza's new status to keep the ?Palestinians? in perpetual diplomatic limbo.

A declaration of statehood in Gaza would make it increasingly difficult for Israel's military to respond with any degree of severity to terrorist threats emanating from the area, or to return Israeli forces, and ultimately homes, to the Strip.

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