By Xinhua
Ramallah : The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Wednesday re-voiced expectations of a U.S. push to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on the occasion of President George W. Bush’s Middle East tour.
“The U.S. is the only international side that can affect Israel and make it committed to the requirements of peace,” said Nemer Hammad, political advisor of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “So, Bush visit to the region involves a historical value.”
During a U.S.-hosted peace conference in last November, Israel and the PNA pledged to launch talks on core final-status issues until reaching an independent Palestinian statehood.
The new negotiations failed to make headway due to the Israeli plans of expanding settlements in West Bank and east Jerusalem. The PNA counts on the United States to determine the success or the failure of Annapolis peace forum’s results, Hammad said.
“The problem in the Israeli-Palestinian talks was not with the time… it is the lack of (Israeli) will to make peace. So far, we have not seen an Israeli signal indicating spirit to reach a two-state solution,” Hammad said.
Bush arrived in Israel on Wednesday noon to kick off the first leg of his eight-day Middle East trip. He is to visit West Bank on Thursday.