On April 4, 2002, the U.S. President called upon Israel to withdraw immediately; on April 6, he added the words "without delay". (United States).

Washington/Texas--On April 4, 2002, the U.S. President called upon Israel to withdraw immediately; on April 6, he added the words "without delay." Five weeks later, the Israeli army was still in the occupied territories. While having withdrawn from the cities, the army tanks continued to rampage through towns such as Hebron (May 3) and Tulkarem (Mary 4) while remaining in Bethlehem. Even the "withdrawal" from cities was only partial, with tanks and armoured personnel carriers regrouping on the outskirts poised to strike again.

On May 2, the U.S. Congress voted total support for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his settlement policy. Earlier Mr. Bush had called him a "man of peace."

Sharon has no intention of allowing a Palestinian state, something the U.S. President has called for. Now that the Oslo Agreement is dead and the Palestinian Authority has been destroyed, the champions of cleansing the occupied territories of Palestians are flexing their muscles in both Israel and the United States. During his one year in office Sharon has added 35 new settlements to the 200 already existing ones and he is starting new ones at the rate of one every two weeks. Financial support for settlements comes from North American Jews as well as from the United States via Israel.

Protestant fundamentalists who do not distinguish between the Old and the New Testament, and who believe that God's promise to Moses of a land of milk and honey has to be interpreted literally and is necessary before the Second Coming takes place, also support Israel's expansion. Financial support for the Israeli state and army from the U.S. Government amounts to at least $5 billion a year, $3 billion in arms and the rest in financial arrangements of one kind of another. Yet this generosity is not a lever the American president can use in negotiations. It is taken for granted as untouchable.

On May 3, House Majority leader Richard Armey (R) and House Majority whip Tom Delay (R) both favoured the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank. As for the Democrats, its Jewish lobby is considered indispensable to the party's well-being. Jewish Americans voted 90% Democrat as was illustrated in the Florida recount of the 2000 election.