President Bush has all but called upon Palestinians to replace Yasser Arafat as their leader as he outlined a plan that could lead to an independent Palestinian state within three years. Bush said that once new leaders and security arrangements are in place, the US will "support the creation of a Palestinian state." Minutes after the speech, we get reaction from Palestinians, Israelis and two former ambassadors.
SHAWQI ISSA
Executive director of the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
DENNIS ROSS
Former ambassador for Middle Eastern affairs during the Clinton Administration; director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
ITAMAR RABINOVICH
President of Tel Aviv University and the former Israeli ambassador to the US
HASSAN ABDEL RACHMAN
Washington representative for the Palestinian Authority
GEOFF AARONSON
Director of the Foundation for Middle East Peace and one of the foremost authorities on the Israeli settlements issues
FAWAZ GERGES
Professor of International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies at Sarah Lawrence College; author of America and Political Islam: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests?
House Education and Workforce Committee
House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
National Association of Colleges and Employers
US Supreme Court: Ring v. Arizona