Military

DATE=6-17-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT 2-

TITLE= U-S / MIDEAST (S)

NUMBER=2-291074

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: As President Bush completes work on a new set of Middle East peace proposals, his officials are criticizing Israel for its decision to wall off the West Bank with a security fence. They say any demarcation of a border with a Palestinian state should be left to negotiations. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: Administration officials say Israel has a right to defend itself from attack the stated purpose of the barrier being built between it and the West Bank. But at the same time, they suggest the fence will be an added hardship for ordinary Palestinians needing to cross the line, and that it might pre-judge future peace negotiations. At a briefing here, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said any drawing of a border needs to be left to negotiations and that a peace accord is the best way for Israel to have security:

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Ultimately the only way to get real security for the Israelis is to get peace, and that means having a Palestinian entity, a partner on the other side, that can control security in that area in cooperation with Israel.

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The comments came as President Bush put finishing touches on what is described as U-S vision for an Israeli-Palestinian peace. The message, expected as early as Tuesday, will reiterate U-S support for Palestinian statehood and, possibly, propose declaring an interim or provisional state on areas now controlled by the Palestinian Authority. (Signed)

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