We stand by Israel vows Bush

Urged by Saudi Arabia to temper support for Israel, President George Bush said today his message to the Arab world is unequivocal: ‘‘We will not allow Israel to be crushed.’’

On the same day that Israeli troops re-entered a Palestinian town in the West Bank and fired upon protesters in Ramallah, Bush bluntly told Israel, ‘‘It’s now time to quit it altogether.’’

Bush spoke in Texas after his extraordinary five hour inaugural meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, in which the president heard Arab criticism of his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

‘‘I told the crown prince that we’ve got a unique relationship with Israel and that one thing that the world can count on is that we will not allow Israel to be crushed,’’ Bush said.

‘‘The crown prince understands my foreign policy. It’s important that we speak with clarity and I will continue to do so.’’

Bush said he’d had enough of the Israeli incursions. ‘‘The Israelis understand my position. ... There has been some progress, but it’s now time to quit it altogether,’’ Bush said near his ranch in Crawford.