United States seeks progress toward Palestinian state in 2008
By David McKeeby
USINFO Staff Writer
Washington -- After separate meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders January 9 and January 10, President Bush said he is increasingly confident that what might have been unlikely even a year ago is not only possible, but necessary: the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of 2008.
"Is it possible for the Israelis and the Palestinians to work out their differences?" Bush asked January 10 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "My answer is, absolutely, it's possible. Not only is it possible, it's necessary. And I'm looking forward to helping."
Bush urged both sides January 10 to continue intensive diplomatic engagement to build on the momentum of the November 2007 Annapolis Conference, where Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joined Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to restart talks with the goal of concluding a peace agreement and setting the stage for a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. (See related article.)
"I am confident that with proper help, the state of Palestine will emerge. And I'm confident that when it emerges it will be a major step toward peace," Bush said.
Despite new challenges since Annapolis, Abbas and Olmert have met to urge negotiators to seek compromise on the core issues at the heart of a half century of conflict, including borders of a future Palestinian state, security guarantees and settlements and the fate of thousands of Palestinian refugees around the region.
"In order for there to be lasting peace, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert have to come together and make tough choices. And I'm convinced they will," Bush said.
On the second stop of his eight-day visit to the Middle East, Bush's helicopter flight from Jerusalem to the West Bank was grounded by dense fog, giving his motorcade an opportunity to view several of the challenges facing Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, including security checkpoints, a controversial system of separation barriers and unauthorized Israeli settlement activity on Palestinian territory.
"I can understand why the Palestinians are frustrated driving through checkpoints," Bush said. "I can also understand that until confidence is gained on both sides, why the Israelis would want there to be a sense of security."
Returning to Jerusalem later in the evening, Bush called on negotiators to further the cause of the Palestinian state with borders that are viable, contiguous and secure; urged Israelis to end settlement expansions and Palestinians to confront extremism; and appealed for compromise on the future status of Jerusalem.
As Israelis and Palestinians negotiate, the United States has committed to helping them address security, settlements and other related issues by monitoring implementation of the Quartet road map -- a plan developed by the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States. (See text of road map.)
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process and regional security issues will top Bush's agenda for the rest of the trip as he meets with leaders in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Bush also will meet with the Quartet's special representative, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for an update on efforts to help the Palestinian Authority develop and implement reforms to lay the groundwork for future statehood.
A transcript of Bush's statement on the Middle East Peace Process and transcripts following meetings with Abbas and Olmert are available on USINFO.
For more information, see The Middle East: A Half Century of U.S. Engagement.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)