Guardian Utd(Wednesday): Bush refuses to mend fences with Arabs

EDITED to correct date

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Wednesday May 5

Bush refuses to mend fences with Arabs
US diplomats try and fail to set up reconciliation
By Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington

The White House has frustrated diplomatic efforts to assuage Arab outrage at its Middle East policy reversal by declining to offer written assurances that it recognises the Palestinians have a territorial claim to the West Bank.
The decision was seen as a snub to Jordan's King Abdullah, who was scheduled to visit the White House tomorrow. It also undermines US discussions with other Arab and European representatives who had sought similar promises.
The veto was also a setback to efforts by the EU, the UN, and Russia to resuscitate the Middle East road map. Representatives met US officials at the UN yesterday to discuss Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza, which has won George Bush's backing, though not his own party's.
After the talks the quartet said the Israeli plan represented a "rare moment of opportunity", but insisted it negotiate thorny issues with Palestinians instead of imposing unilateral solutions.

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"YEE-HAA!" be our foriegn policy?

:)