Prospective Palestinian Premier Says U.S. Must Press Israel [View All]

[Darranar]

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept. 8 — Ahmed Qurei, the man who might become Palestinian prime minister, said today that for him to succeed in that post, the Bush administration would have to press Israel to restrain its military and to "change their way of dealing with President Arafat."

"These are requirements for the success of this mission," said Mr. Qurei, who was nominated for the prime ministership by Yasir Arafat on Saturday. "I will not accept to be a failure."

Mr. Qurei, the speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, would follow Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned as prime minister over the weekend. Mr. Abbas blamed Israel for his resignation, saying that it had undermined his government, but he also told Palestinian legislators that Mr. Arafat had not given him enough support.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/08/international/middleeast/08CND-MIDE.html