REACTION/Middle East: The Palestinians were distinctly underwhelmed by, and the Israelis politely supportive of, President Bush's latest profession of determination to accelerate peace-making and Palestinian state-building.
In a surprise six-minute appearance in the Rose Garden, President Bush announced that the US would formally present the two sides with a much-anticipated "road map for peace" as soon as the Palestinians appointed a prime minister with genuine authority. "We expect that such a Palestinian prime minister will be confirmed soon," he said.
Mr Bush was plainly attempting to reassure the Arab world that, his focus on Saddam Hussein notwithstanding, he remained fully supportive of progress towards the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
More specifically, he appeared to be trying to ensure that Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the long-time associate of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Yasser Arafat who was nominated this week to serve as the PA's first prime minister, be given real power, particularly over peace negotiations and the struggle against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other extremist groups.
Mr Abbas's precise role has yet to be finalised, and he has yet to officially accept the job.
Saeb Erekat, the former chief Palestinian peace negotiator, was anything but reassured by Mr Bush's remarks, however. All the necessary legislative measures had been taken for the creation of a new position of Palestinian prime minister, Mr Erekat said, indicating that Mr Bush's precondition had therefore been met.
But, he asked, was the American president now proposing to introduce the road map as a work-in-progress for further debate, or did he intend to present real deadlines for substantive progress? "We want to see the road map introduced for implementation," Mr Erekat said, "and not consultation".
The answer appeared to lie in Mr Bush's remarks. "Once this road map is delivered," the president said, "we will expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road map with one another." The US, in other words, does not intend, for the time being, to start imposing deadlines for the firm crackdown on terrorism the Israelis are demanding, or the Jewish settlement freeze that the Palestinians want to see.
Aides to Israel's Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon, for their part, claimed to have known in advance what the president would say, and to be comfortable with his remarks. (Mr Sharon's bureau chief, Mr Dov Weisglas, has just returned from Washington, where he met, among others, with Mr Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.)
They also extrapolated from the text a desire on Mr Bush's part to ensure that the European Union, the Russians and the United Nations - partners of the US in drafting the road map - played only a marginal role in taking it forward.