U.S. CHANGES POLICY IN PLEDGE ON 1949 LINES

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The Bush administration appears to have revised U.S.
policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

A report by the Washington Institute said the administration's adoption of
the 1949 armstice lines as the recommended borders of Israel could mark a
major change in U.S. policy. The report said President George Bush appears
to have abandoned U.S. support of United Nations Security Council resolution
242, which called for secure borders for Israel.

"Bush specifically committed the United States to a certain final-status
position: the 1949 armistice lines are the starting point, from which any
change must be mutually agreed," the report, authored by executive director
Robert Satloff, said. "This is a huge advance for the Palestinians."

Entitled "Deciphering the Bush-Abbas Press Conference," the report analyzed
Bush's statements in wake of his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon in April 2005 and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during
the following month. Satloff said Bush delivered a message to Abbas that
could harm the U.S. commitment to Palestinian democracy and a two-state
solution.
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