*EPF303 07/21/2004
White House Report, July 21: Israel-Palestine, Pakistan, Indonesia
(Israel-Palestine conflict, Pakistan/Saudi Arabia, Bush appoints ambassador to Indonesia) (460)

APPROPRIATE SOLUTION TO ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT IS ROAD MAP

"The president has always stood behind the right of Israel to defend itself when it comes to addressing the security situation in the Middle East," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters July 21.

In an overwhelming vote of approval, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution July 20 that asked Israel to abide by a World Court decision calling the Israeli barrier illegal and asking it to dismantle the wall. The United States voted against the measure, citing the need to solve the Israeli-Palestine conflict through political measures.

"We don't believe that the U.N. resolution is the appropriate way to go," said the spokesman. "The appropriate solution is to follow the road map to get to the political solution that has been outlined."

The U.N. resolution is not binding and Israel has disregarded the decision, saying it will continue construction of the wall.

"We've always said that Israel has the right to defend itself," McClellan said, "but that as it takes steps to do that, it should keep in the mind the plight of the Palestinian people and work in a way that doesn't place undue hardships on them, so that they can move about freely. And we've made our views known on that."

He emphasized that the United States will continue to support a road map for peace and praised a "historic and bold" proposal by Prime Minister Sharon to disengage from Gaza and remove settlements.

"All parties have responsibilities under the road map, and we want all parties to meet those responsibilities. That's what we continue to urge," McClellan said.

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA

The United States has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism, said the spokesman, citing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as countries that have exhibited impressive change.

McClellan called the war on terrorism a "broad war" and said there has been "great change in places like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and Iraq because of the actions that we are taking."

Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia recognize that al Qaeda is an enemy in their countries, said the press secretary, and they are "going on the offensive and bringing terrorists to justice."

McClellan acknowledged that there is "more that we need to do," but said that Bush is continuing to work "to make America safer and more secure from the threats from terrorism."

BUSH APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO INDONESIA

On July 20, Bush appointed B. Lynn Pascoe as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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