Bush Meets Abbas in West Bank
By Paula Wolfson
Jerusalem
10 January 2008
President Bush says he believes an Israeli-Palestinian agreement can be signed before he leaves office, one year from now. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush spoke following talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank town, Ramallah.
One day after he met in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Bush motorcaded, amid tight security, to Ramallah.
He met for several hours with Mahmoud Abbas and senior members of the Palestinian Authority. When they appeared before reporters, Mr. Bush said he believes a peace deal can be signed before his term in office has ended.
"I am confident that, with proper help, the state of Palestine will emerge," President Bush said. "And, I am confident that, when it emerges, it will be a major step toward peace."
There were no breakthroughs during his talks with President Abbas, but there were clear signs of determination to finally bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians. Mr. Bush said each side has obligations and specifically called on Israel to stop hindering the Palestinian government in its efforts to modernize its security force.
"It is very important for the government to be able to assure people that, if there is a need, there will be an effective force to provide security," he said. "That is just step one in having credibility with the people."
As his motorcade made its way to Ramallah, Mr. Bush got a first hand look at two other sticking points often cited by the Palestinian Authority. Through the thick fog, he could see Israeli checkpoints and the trailers that formed an unauthorized settlement along the road.
Wednesday, Mr. Bush called on the Israelis to remove all such settlements. But when asked about the checkpoints by a Palestinian reporter, the president said he can see both sides of the issue.
"I can understand why the Palestinians are frustrated by driving through checkpoints," Mr. Bush said. "I can also understand that until confidence is gained on both sides, why the Israelis would want there to be a sense of security -- in other words, they don't want a state on their border from which attacks can be launched."
About the time Mr. Bush arrived in Israel, Tuesday, an Israeli town was hit by rockets from Gaza. Mr. Bush says one of the biggest obstacles to peace lies in Gaza, where Hamas militants are in control. He says the residents of Gaza have a choice to make, between the hopeful future of a Palestinian state and the status quo.
"Hamas, which I felt ran on a campaign of 'we are going to improve your lives through better education and better health,' has delivered nothing but misery," the president said.
For his part, President Abbas reiterated that Hamas has committed "a coup d'etat in Gaza." But he says the Palestinian Authority continues to stand with the people.
Speaking through a translator, he said his government remains committed to its obligations under the peace process.
"Peace in the world starts from here - from the Holy Land," President Abbas said.
The Palestinian leader met with President Bush in a complex that was once used as a bunker by his predecessor Yassir Arafat. President Bush refused to deal with Arafat. He says he waited for someone like Mahmoud Abbas, who he has described as a leader committed to peace.
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