US President George W. Bush called in a brief speech at the White House
yesterday for international support to the Palestine-Israel peace process.
Standing side by side with Israeli Prime Minister Edhud Olmert and
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the Rose Garden, Bush also assured the US
vigorous effort to help achieve a Middle East peace agreement.
"One thing I've assured both gentlemen is that the United States will be
actively engaged in the process, that we will use our power to help you as you
come up with the necessary decisions to lay out a Palestinian state that will
live side by side in peace with Israel," Bush said.
The president made the remarks following the one-day Middle East peace
conference in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed
to resume peace negotiations.
Bush applauded the Palestinian-Israeli joint document as "a hopeful
beginning," but he noted that "no matter how important yesterday was, it's not
nearly as important as tomorrow and the days beyond."
He also expressed his appreciation towards Olmert and Abbas for their
commitment to working hard to achieve peace.
"I appreciate your courage and leadership. It's an honor to call you friends.
And it's an honor to have watched you yesterday as you laid out your respective
visions for something we all want," he said.
One day after vowing to try to forge a treaty by the end of 2008 at the
Annapolis conference, Israeli Prime Minister Edhud Olmert were invited by Bush
to the White House for the ceremonial resumption of the first formal peace talks
in seven years.
Before the Rose Garden send-off speech, Bush separately met with Olmert and
Abbas again at the White House. The two Middle Eastern leaders will continue
with a meeting on December 12 in Jerusalem.
Despite deep international doubts about the post-Annapolis prospects for the
Palestine-Israel peace process by January 2009 when Bush's presidency expires,
the White House still highlighted the conference's achievement.
"It was a successful conference," said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino, adding
"the follow-through is really important, and it's going to take a lot of effort
and time and commitment in order to keep it going."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also insisted during an interview with
ABC television yesterday that the peace effort faced a window of opportunity as
Arab states resume their support for a drive to end the six-decade conflict.
"I think in the region you're seeing that the Arab states that have not been
as active in the peace process in the past were there in the room, including
Saudi Arabia. Clearly, there are some reasons for hope and for optimism," Rice
said.