Israel makes peace pledges while Abbas meets Bush

US President George W. Bush (R) and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas (L) walk to lunch following their joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on Friday in Washington, DC. Abbas called on Israel to make greater efforts to address Palestinian concerns on freeing prisoners and Jewish settlements. Photo: AFP

A statement issued by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office listed moves Israel planned to take "to advance negotiations" with the Palestinian Authority on implementing the US-backed peace plan affirmed at a Middle East summit on June 4.

They included a promise to review ways to reduce hardships for Palestinians caused by the construction of an Israeli "separation wall" in the West Bank, a barrier Israel says is necessary to stop suicide bombers reaching its cities.

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At a White House news conference with Abbas, Bush welcomed the Israeli announcement, but a Palestinian cabinet minister dismissed it as a public relations ploy.

However, Bush also set the stage for a possible face-off with Sharon when they meet in Washington on Tuesday.

"I think the wall is a problem and I've discussed that with Ariel Sharon," Bush said. "It is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank."

Abbas, a moderate on his first prime ministerial visit to Washington, said construction of the barrier -- a cement wall in some places and an electronic wire fence in others -- on confiscated land could make it impossible to create a "free" Palestinian state.

An official in Sharon's office declined immediate comment on the remarks.

Bush also praised Abbas profusely and repeated US opposition to Jewish settlements built on land Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

Earlier, the Israeli prime minister's office said Israel intended to make good on a pledge to hand over more West Bank territory to Palestinian security control following a troop pullout several weeks ago from Bethlehem.

"Israel will transfer security responsibility for two additional (West Bank) cities," the statement said.

"The names of the cities...and a date for their transfer will be decided at a meeting early next week between (Israeli) Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and (Palestinian) Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan."

Palestinian cabinet minister Hisham Abdel-Raziq, in comments to Voice of Palestine radio, dismissed the Israeli announcement of confidence-building steps.

"If Israel continues to pursue this misleading policy through the mass media, there will be no progress," Abdel-Raqiq, who holds the prisoner affairs portfolio, was quoted as saying.

Israel's statement affirmed its plan to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in what it sees as a step to boost Abbas's popularity among Palestinians and support for the peace plan, which envisages creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.