Israelis, Palestinians OK Negotiating Plan
CBNNews.com
November 27, 2007
CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - Despite years of setbacks, President Bush believes peace between Israel and the Palestinians is still within reach.
Watch the Newswatch segment as CBN interviews Middle East Analyst Dr. Walid Phares on the significance of the peace talks.
Today Bush, along with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to resume peace talks with the goal of creating an independent Palestinian state by the end of 2008.
In a joint statement the three pledged:
"We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis."
"We agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements," it continued. "We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."
Annapolis is the scene of the first Middle East peace talks in seven years. It's also the first to occur under the Bush administration.
With just 14 months left in office, some feel the President is thinking about his legacy.
But the goal in Annapolis is not to establish any lasting solutions, but merely to lay the groundwork for future negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.
"We don't want to raise anyone's expectations. We're not going to solve the issues of Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, water, tomorrow or the day after," Principal Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erakat said.
The President met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders separately on the eve of the conference. However, he's made it clear that he'll step back and let the delegates - including an unprecedented number from Arab countries - hash out their differences.
The same sticking points have existed for decades: final borders, control of Jerusalem and Palestinians' "Right of Return" to areas they lost during Israel's 1948 war for independence.
The first of the peace talks are set to begin on December 12 and will continue biweekly after that, according to Bush
The Jerusalem Post quoted Bush as saying, "Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is the key to realizing their own, and both require an independent, democratic viable Palestinian state."
Source: ABC News, The Jerusalem Post
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