April 22, 2004

Bush Still Waiting for Reward

By Ron Kampeas

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• Americans see "restrictions on settlement growth" as a freeze, while Israeli officials are looking for opportunities to build within settlements they now believe they have a license to keep.

• Powell wants Israel to return money it grabbed in an anti-terrorist raid on Palestinian banks in February to a Palestinian Authority finance system Powell believes is showing accountability. Senior Israeli officials say they have no intention of returning the funds.

Sharon has sympathy for Bush's political needs ahead of what is likely to be a close election in November. He snubbed presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) during his visit. In addition, his remarks at the White House press conference last week were taken as a strong endorsement of Bush, which could help the president's prospects among Jewish voters who play a crucial role in swing states.

"In all these years, I have never met a leader as committed as you are, Mr. President, to the struggle for freedom and the need to confront terrorism wherever it exists," Sharon said at the press conference.