“It`s Time to Cease the Violence”

U.S. President George W Bush had a press meeting in the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m. (local time) on the 4th, and called for Israel to withdraw forces from Palestinian controlled areas, and disappeared in 18 minutes.

At the back of the president heading for his office poured the question `Why now? `.

In the question of reporters were criticisms for having stood by the forces of Israel and calling to account the reason of changing attitude in a sudden.

President Bush announced the reason at the meeting, “the storms of violence cannot go on. Enough is enough. ” But New York Times on the 5th said, “President Bush decided to intervene in order to stop Israel-Palestine conflicts developing to the instability of whole Middle East. ”

President Bush was worried about the demonstrations against Israel, U.S. and government getting tough in Egypt and Jordan, which are pro-Americans among Arab countries.

President Bush has equated the Palestinian bombing suicide terror with Sept. 11 terror, and Israel`s military campaign with the right to defend itself like U.S.` dispatching troops to Afghanistan. In the presidential advisory team for national security, there were voices that appose to the view of the president by saying, “Palestinian suicide bombing terror is not a mere terror but the `protest` against the invasion of Israel”. But these voices have been ignored by the obstinacy of Mr. Bush, who simplifies complicated diplomatic pending issues.

However, the `narrow view` of President Bush plunged U.S. into double dilemma. U.S.` siding with Israel deteriorated the Israel-Palestine war to the confrontations between cultures, and U.S. lost the supports of Arab countries on the overthrowing Saddam Hussein administration of Iraq which is the next target of U.S. anti-terror war.

Hence, President Bush, who had no way but change his attitude, began intervening into Middle East war by urging Israel to withdraw troops and deciding to send U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell as a special envoy.

State Secretary Powell is likely to shift the principle to practice both the negotiations for cease-fire and peace from `cease-fire first, then peace, ` or `no peace conference without ceasing fire`. U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni will prepare measures for cease-fire by consulting with Yasser Arafat President of Palestinian government on the 5th.