President Yasser Arafat said today it was still possible to establish a Palestinian state by 2005, despite US President George W. Bush's statements that such a goal was unrealistic.
Responding to Mr Bush's comments to an Egyptian newspaper, Mr Arafat told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah that establishing a Palestinian state by 2005 was "more than realistic because according to the signed agreements....our state should have been declared by 1998 or 1999".
Mr Bush said establishing a Palestinian state by 2005 is no longer a "realistic" goal because of violence and changes in Palestinian leadership.
In an interview with Egypt's semi-official al-Ahram daily published today, Mr Bush said the United States remains committed to the road map for peace that calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"I think the timetable of 2005 is not as realistic as it was two years ago. Nevertheless, I do think we ought to push hard as fast as possible to get a state in place," Mr Bush said.