Bush endorsement of Israel pull-out plan angers Palestinians

Palestinians and Israeli hard-liners rejected statements by US President George W Bush supporting some Israeli settlements in the West Bank and ruling out the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in Israel.

Mr Bush was speaking after a meeting yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Washington, where Mr Sharon presented his plan for an Israeli withdrawal from all of the Gaza Strip, along with a smaller pull-back in the West Bank.