07 May 2004	Friday	16 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

WASHINGTON, May 6: Under pressure from Jordan's King Abdullah, US President George Bush said on Thursday he would reassure the Palestinians in writing of his commitment to ensuring a "just peace" with Israel despite his recent pledges favoring the Jewish state.

Bush said he would send a letter to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie "that will explain my views, and we will expand dialogue between the United States and Palestinians."

Bush delighted Israelis and enraged Palestinians last month when he wrote Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon letters saying Israel could not be expected to give up all its settlements or accept the return of Palestinian refugees.

Bush's stance was seen by the Palestinians and their supporters in the Arab world as having bargained away two central and highly emotive issues that should have been theirs to negotiate with Israel.

Though White House officials said they stood by their commitments to Israel, Bush told Abdullah what he wanted to hear: "All final-status issues must be negotiated between the parties... And the United States will not prejudice the outcome of those negotiations."

Bush's assurances to Abdullah and Qurie came in response to growing anger in the Arab world to Bush's pro-Israel policies and to the explosive revelations of US forces abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners. -Reuters