Bush pushes Israel to stop settlement expansion

US President George W. Bush (R) walks with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to their joint press conference at Bush's Prairie Chapel ranch Monday in Crawford, Texas. Sharon reaffirmed his support for a Palestinian state with contiguous territory in the West Bank after meeting with Bush. PHOTO: AFP

As the two stood side-by-side outside the US leader's private ranch in Crawford, Texas, Bush praised Sharon for his "strong visionary leadership" in initiating the Gaza withdrawal, known as the disengagement plan.

"I strongly support his courageous initiative to disengage from Gaza and part of the West Bank," he said, referring to the withdrawal of more than 8,000 Jewish settlers from Gaza and four isolated West Bank settlements.

He also urged the Palestinians to coordinate with Israel over the evacuation, which is due to start on July 20.

"The prime minister is willing to coordinate the implementation of the disengagement plan with the Palestinians. I urge the Palestinian leadership to accept his offer," Bush said.

Affirming the internationally drafted roadmap as "the only way forward", Bush urged both parties to comply with the obligations laid down in the peace blueprint.

The president urged the Palesti-nians to "combat terrorism in all its forms", and took a strong line with Israel, calling on the US ally to live up to its roadmap commitments and not push ahead with plans to expand West Bank settlements.

"I told the prime minister of my concern that Israel not undertake any activity that contravenes its roadmap obligations or prejudices final status negotiations," Bush said.

"Therefore Israel should remove unauthorised outposts and meet its roadmap obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank," he said, later driving the point home: "The roadmap clearly says no expansion of settlements."

Reaffirming his commitment to the roadmap, Sharon pledged to remove unauthorised outposts, and to meet all commitments with regard to West Bank settlements.

"I will fulfil my commitment to you, Mr President, to remove unauthorised outposts and settlements. Israel will also meet all its obligations under the roadmap," said Sharon.

Bush's comments about settlement expansion -- mentioned three times at the joint press conference -- came as something of a surprise to the Israeli delegation which had been hoping the issue would be sidelined amid a flare-up of violence in the southern Gaza Strip.

But speaking to reporters after the summit, Sharon insisted that despite the US leader's comments, there had been "no disagreement whatsoever" over the expansion of Maaleh Adumim in his talks with Bush.

Last year, Bush signalled his support for Israel to hold on to large West Bank settlement blocs within the framework of a final status agreement, in what amounted to a sea-change in long-standing US opposition to settlement activity.

However, Israeli plans to enlarge Maaleh Adumim, the largest settlement in the West Bank, have caused concern in Washington.

And even after promising to comply with Israel's roadmap obligations, Sharon said he was keen to see "territorial contiguity" between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim, which lies some five kilometres (three miles) east of the Holy City.