Bush's Mideast Plan Draws Israeli Praise, Arab Ire
Asked for a response to Bush's call for a new leadership, Arafat, who has announced plans for elections by early next year, told reporters in Ramallah: ``This is what my people will decide. They are the only ones who can determine this.''

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday the United States would respect the electoral choice of the Palestinian people. If they choose Arafat, he said, ``we will deal with the circumstances as we find them.''

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters Bush's call for Palestinian elections could backfire.

``You could find yourself in a situation that the radicals are the ones that get elected, and it would be the result of a democratic process, and we have to accept that,'' he said.

Radically differing reactions from the warring sides to Bush's blueprint for peace underscored the depth of hostility that has built up during nearly 21 months of bloodshed.

Ordinary Palestinians, who have long accused the United States of bias in favor of Israel, minced no words.

``We also believe the Americans deserve a better leader than Bush. He is an obstacle to peace,'' said Ali Mohammad-Ali, a 35-year-old electrician, in Gaza.

Some moderate Arab governments offered lukewarm praise for the Bush initiative, pleased with deeper U.S. involvement in peace making and a call for creation of a Palestinian state within three years.

But a strong undercurrent of scorn and disappointment ran through the Arab world.

``It is absurd. The Americans have changed their priority from ending the violence to changing the Palestinian leadership, which is Sharon's priority,'' Lebanese commentator Michael Young said in Beirut.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-mideast.html