WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- Israel's borders with a Palestinian state would reflect demographic realities rather than previous borders, U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday.
Bush also told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon the United States agrees with Israel that the Jewish state would not be required to accept the return of millions of Palestinian refugees.
"The realities on the ground and in the region have changed greatly over the last several decades," Bush said after meeting with Sharon at the White House. "And any final settlement (with the Palestinians) must take into account those realities and be agreeable to the parties."
Bush's commitment came as the president gave vocal and written support to a proposal by Sharon for Israel's unilateral withdrawal form Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Sharon says the plan, which still has to be approved by the Israeli parliament, would improve Israeli security and possibly kick start Bush's stalled peace road map initiative. Palestinians believe it a ruse to later keep most of the West Bank territory they want and need for an independent state.
