[Don't tell Bibi & Limor!]ARABS ASSURED OF NO CHANGE IN U.S. POSITION
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The Bush administration has assured Arab states that
Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West
Bank would not harm Palestinian demands for the return of refugees to their
homes in what became the Jewish state.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and his aides have been briefing Arab
leaders on the U.S. endorsement of the Israeli withdrawal plan. U.S.
officials said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposed withdrawal provides
the Palestinians with a state as well as thousands of Israeli homes.

"The Palestinians will take those settlements openly," U.S. Deputy Secretary
of State Richard Armitage said. "For the first time in how many years, the
Palestinians will have direct access to an Arab neighbor [Egypt], which we
hope and pray bring enormous interchange, commerce. We were very careful to
say that, ultimately, this does not prejudge final status. These have to be
mutually agreed by the parties."

Armitage left Washington for the Gulf region over the weekend. He was
scheduled to travel to Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates.
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