In granting Sharon and Israeli settlers the right to annex Palestinian territory, Mr. Bush is acting in the same manner as Arthur Balfour did in 1917. Those who do not own give a free generous gift to those who are not entitled. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza are under oppressive illegal occupation that has been allowed to stand for 37 years in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions. Full Israeli withdrawal should be imperative and requires no negotiation.

The statememt that :" In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centres, it is unrealistic to expect....a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949", is a license for renewed Israeli expansionism in neighbouring Arab territories. The settlements are illegal and stand in violation of Security Council resolution #465, of 1980, and the the Fourth Geneva Convention, and thus tantamount to war crimes. For interest, the armistice lines of 1949 are, in themselves, illegitimate and in violation of the UN resolution # 181 of 1947.

The Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees to their homes, which Mr. Bush chooses to anull, is an inalienable right fully affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and repeated UN resolutions.