The Hindu : 'Bush suggestion outrageous'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 28, 2002

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'Bush suggestion outrageous'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 27. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today condemned the "outrageous suggestion" made by the United States President, George Bush, that the Palestinians must change their leadership in return for Washington's support for a Palestinian State within 18 months and asked the Vajpayee Government to take initiative to de-escalate the situation there.

"This is pure and simple blackmail'', the CPI (M) politburo said in a statement adding that the U.S. imperialism's partisanship with Israel could not have been more blatant.

"Even while Mr. Bush was making this proposal, Israeli tanks were rolling into Ramallah and encircling Yasser Arafat's headquarters."

The U.S. statement, the party said, came days after the annexation of Palestinian territories and atrocities on innocent Palestinians by the Israeli army.

"Not strangely, President Bush has not issued a stricture, leave alone a condemnation of the Israeli atrocities being committed on the Palestinians."

Backing Mr. Arafat as the legitimately elected President of the Palestine people, the politburo called upon the international community and the United Nations to immediately intervene to de-escalate the situation and prevent further loss of innocent lives.

"The inalienable right of the Palestinians for their homeland can no longer be denied by imperial conspiracies,'' it said.

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