Israeli conflict New York, Nov 12, SPA -- After the death of Yasser Arafat and the end of the U.S. presidential election, Washington should now "refocus" on solving the Arab-Israeli conflict _ in part by quelling violence in Iraq, King Abdullah II of Jordan said in a newspaper column published Friday. "The world's most powerful, most visible democracy has a chance to send a strong message to the region's people, especially its youth _ a message of deeds, not words," Abdullah wrote in a column in Friday's New York Times. "That means fulfilling the promise of a rebuilt, violence-free, democratic and sovereign Iraq." Abdullah also called on President George W. Bush's administration to take a more active role in guiding Israelis and Palestinians toward peace, by "insisting that both sides engage in genuine dialogue and live up to their commitments spelled out in the road map _ one that President Bush has said could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state next year." Israel should withdraw from Gaza and "take other confidence building measures" to disprove allegations that it was trying to stir conflict, Abdullah wrote. To further their case for statehood, Palestinians should invest in public welfare and fight government corruption and terrorism, he said.
