Bush says he hopes Palestinian state would bring end to checkpoints

Published: 2008-01-10

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- U.S. President George W. Bush told residents of the West Bank city of Bethlehem he hoped someday the creation of an independent Palestinian state would eliminate checkpoints and walls at the Israeli border. "Someday I hope that, as a result of a formation of a Palestinian state, there won't be walls and checkpoints, that people will be able to move freely in a democratic state," Bush said Jan. 10 during his visit to the birthplace of Jesus. "That's the vision, greatly inspired by my belief that there is an Almighty, and a gift of that Almighty to each man, woman and child on the face of the earth is freedom. And I felt it strongly here today." Bethlehem residents have said a 25-foot-tall wall surrounding the city has left them feeling imprisoned. Israel says the wall -- part of a planned 400-mile cement and barbed-wire barrier through the West Bank -- has proven its effectiveness against suicide bombers. Bush thanked the residents of Bethlehem for "enduring a presidential trip," and thanked the leadership of the three churches -- Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic -- who share in the care of the Church of the Nativity for welcoming him. Following two days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Bush spent one-and-a-half hours in Bethlehem visiting the church.

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