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 06 July 2008 15:24 BST

New talks after peace pledge

Wednesday, 28 Nov 2007 13:29
New talks between George Bush, Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert after Middle East peace pledge
George Bush is hosting fresh talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders after yesterday's commitment to ending the decades-long conflict.

The United States president will hold one-on-one talks with Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas before the three men formally inaugurate yesterday's peace pledge.

In Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, Mr Bush unveiled a joint vow to establish an independent Palestinian state by the end of next year.

"Such a state will provide Palestinians with the chance to lead lives of freedom, purpose and dignity," the US president said.

"And such a state will help provide Israelis with something they have been seeking for generations: to live in peace with their neighbours."

But Mr Bush insists that the agreement is "the beginning of the process, not the end of it".

Israeli prime minister Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority president Mr Abbas have agreed to meet every two weeks to bolster the peace process.

Mr Olmert admitted yesterday that Israeli was prepared to make "painful compromise rife with risks" in order to achieve "peace… an end to terror… an end to hatred".

And Mr Abbas, who has said that East Jerusalem must be the capital of any Palestinian state, added: "Neither we nor you must beg for peace from the other.

"It is a joint interest for you and us."

Speaking at a press conference that marked the conclusion of a peace conference attended by more than 40 nations, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice explained: "The focus here has been on the obligations not only of the parties but of the international community to achieve our shared goal of two democratic states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security."

Bilateral negotiations are due to begin on December 12th, with the key issues of borders, the rights of refugees and water to be outlined.

Washington succeeded in persuading a Saudi Arabian delegation to attend the talks, which were the first fully-fledged attempt to peacefully resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for seven years.

Syria, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, also sent its deputy foreign minister – a minor victory for the US.

Expectations for the conference had been low.

Mr Bush's administration is facing increasing criticism stateside as its last 12 months approach, while Mr Olmert has been under pressure at home since last year's inconclusive conflict with Hizbullah militants on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

And Mr Abbas cannot claim to represent all Palestinians, with Islamist organisation Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip, which has a population of almost 1.5 million.

Hamas – not invited to this week's talks – has already cast doubts over their effectiveness.

Spokesman Sami Abu-Zuhri said the only thing that had been achieved was a commitment to negotiate.

"This by itself is a sharp proof of the failure of the Annapolis meeting," he claimed.End of story


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