While commending the American President for his continued commitment to a just Middle East peace settlement by the end of his presidency, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked President Bush to try to achieve a more balanced postion on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, accusing the President of obvious bias in favour of Israel. The President's assertion in Israel that the U.S. was Israel's closest ally and that their country was a "homeland for the Chosen People" confirmed in the minds of Palestinians the Bush's inability to act as an honest broker.
