By KUNA
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, emerging from a meeting with US President George W Bush at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Thursday, expressed satisfaction at outcome of the discussions.
Abbas expressed hope that the talks with the Americans and the Israelis would conclude with an end to the occupation and establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He called on Israel to honor obligations toward the peace process and affirmed that peace could only be realised as a result of mutual desire by Israel and the Palestinians.
The president called for resolving the plight of Palestinian refugees and lifting the siege of the Palestinian territories. For his part, Bush said Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert understand necessity of setting up two neighboring democratic states, adding that Abbas was elected on the basis of a manifesto that calls for peace. He praised efforts that have been exerted by Abbas and the Palestinian government for improving living conditions of the Palestinian people. Bush lashed out at “terrorist groups that have killed innocent people for serving certan political purposes” not only in the Palestinian territories but also in other parts of the world, namely Lebanon and Afghanistan. Abbas is aware of the fact that “a handful” of people is seeking to kill aspirations of the Palestinian people through creation of chaos, Bush said, expressing hope that peace could be realised this year.
— For his part, Bush said Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert understand necessity of setting up two neighboring democratic states, adding that Abbas was elected on the basis of a manifesto that calls for peace.
He praised efforts that have been exerted by Abbas and the Palestinian government for improving living conditions of the Palestinian people.
–Bush lashed out at “terrorist groups that have killed innocent people for serving certan political purposes” not only in the Palestinian territories but also in other parts of the world, namely Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Abbas is aware of the fact that “a handful” of people is seeking to kill aspirations of the Palestinian people through creation of chaos, Bush said, expressing hope that peace could be realised this year.
Bush called on both sides to meet their commitments, voicing concern over continued Israeli settlement expansions.
He added that US Security Coordinator for Middle East peace Lieutenant General Keith W. Dayton was working to develop and improve Palestinian security capabilities in order to help Palestinian security forces shore up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Bush was speaking after groundbreaking talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Bush also said Israel must “help and not hinder” efforts to create credible Palestinian security forces. On Israeli military checkpoints, the US president said he understands Palestinian frustrations about Israeli military checkpoints in the West Bank but argued that they were necessary for Israelis to feel secure. He noted that it is meaningless to talk about a two-state solution without deciding upon the border, Palestinian refugees’ right of return, Jerusalem and security measures.
He urged Israel to have goodwill negotiations with the Palestinian leader in order to reach a lasting solution after the UN failed to help both sides arrive at a deal over the last period.
He believed that the sole way to overcome whom he called “terrorists” is to devise a fresh hopeful vision to draw a better future plan.
It is Bush’s first trip to Israel and the West Bank since taking office in 2001. He is trying to use the visit to push forward stalling Israeli-Palestinian peace talks which were relaunched at the Annapolis conference last November.