AL QUDS, Nov 11: Palestinian officials gave a lukewarm response on Sunday to US President George W. Bush’s speech at the United Nations, at which he said he envisaged a future Palestinian state.

In an apparent attempt to appease both sides in the 53-year-old conflict, Bush called on Saturday for an end to “incitement, violence and terror” and for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on UN resolutions.

“In principle it was positive, but what it needs is for the US administration to adopt a clear strategy to implement what Mr Bush said and to adopt a clear plan to end Israeli occupation of our lands so we can establish our state,” Palestinian cabinet minister Hassan Asfour said.

The United States has pressured Israel and the Palestinians to calm more than 13 months of violence as it tries to cement Arab and Muslim support for its anti-terror campaign.

It has called on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian-ruled areas it reoccupied in October after the assassination of a cabinet minister and for Palestinians to rein in militants.—AFP