WASHINGTON, 25 April 2008 — US President George W. Bush assured Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday he was “confident” that Middle East peace talks will yield a deal, by the year’s end, on creating a Palestinian state.
“I assured the president that a Palestinian state’s a high priority, for me and my administration, a viable state, a state that doesn’t look like Swiss cheese, a state that provides hope,” Bush said as they met at the White House.
Abbas thanked the US president for reviving the stalled Middle East peace talks at a November peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, but warned: “We are in a race against time.”
“We believe that you actually are truly seeking a true, genuine and lasting peace in the Middle East. And I am certain that you would like to see an agreement and settlement before the end of your term,” said Abbas, as Bush nodded his head.
The two leaders agreed the project faces daunting obstacles, but expressed confidence that Israel and the Palestinians can, by the year’s end, at least agree on what such a state would look like.
“I cannot say that the road to peace is paved with flowers; it is paved with obstacles. But together, we will work very hard in order to eliminate those obstacles and achieve peace,” said Abbas.
“I’m confident we can achieve the definition of a state. I’m also confident it’s going to require hard work. To that end, I’m going back to the Middle East. I’m looking forward to meeting you, sir,” said Bush.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration flatly denied a report that it gave the green light to Israel to expand settlements that it would retain as part of a final peace deal with the Palestinians under the so-called “road-map” to peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, quoted by The Washington Post, said this week that Bush four years ago gave a letter to Olmert’s predecessor Ariel Sharon allowing Israel to expand those West Bank settlements.
“There is no such understanding,” said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino. “What the president is committed to is the road map, and it’s right here in black and white.
“The two basic things are dismantling the settlement outposts; and then, consistent with the Mitchell Report, freezing all settlement activity,” she said.
