Bush condemns Gaza bombing
US President George W Bush has condemned Wednesday’s bombing of a US diplomatic convoy in the Gaza Strip that killed three American security officers and injuring another.
Mr Bush slammed the Palestinian Authority leadership for failing to curbing militancy among its rank and file.
He said Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority should have acted “long ago to fight terror in all its forms.”
A clampdown on Palestinian militancy is a precondition of the “road map” for peace in the Middle East, which has the goal of establishing a Palestinian state by 2005.
Mr Bush said the new Palestinian Prime Minister must insist upon overseeing the security force operations. Mr Arafat has frustrated the present PM Ahmed Qureia and his predecessor for failing to hand over full control.
Mr Bush said in a statement: “I condemn in the strongest terms the vicious act of terrorism directed against Americans in Gaza today. We are working closely with the appropriate officials to bring the terrorists to justice.
“Palestinian authorities should have acted long ago to fight terror in all its forms. The failure to create effective Palestinian security forces dedicated to fighting terror continues to cost lives.
“There must be an empowered prime minister who controls all Palestinian security forces, reforms that continue to be blocked by Yasser Arafat.
“The failure to undertake these reforms and dismantle the terrorist organisations constitutes the greatest obstacle to achieving the Palestinian people ‘s dream of statehood.”
The blast appeared to come from a roadside device, possibly detonated by remote control.
It is the first time a US target has been hit inside the Palestinian territories.
The blast took place at 1000 local time (0800 GMT) near the village of Beit Hanoun, close to the Jabalya refugee camp, about one kilometre inside the Gaza Strip.
Both the Islamic Jihad and Hamas militant groups have denied involvement in the attack.
Mr Qureia condemned the attack and Yasser Arafat labelled it ‘an ugly crime’ and said he had ordered an investigation.
President Bush has called for a crackdown on Palestinian militancy after Wednesday’s Gaza bombing
