USA: At the mideast summit in Annapolis, Maryland, Israel and Palestinians take a further step towards commiting to further negotiations and a peace treaty by the end of 2008

At the mideast summit in Annapolis, Maryland, Israel and Palestinians take a further step towards commiting to further negotiations and a peace treaty by the end of 2008. Hundreds of protesters, anti-summit and Jewish anti-zionist demonstrators, shouted at each other as leaders inside began peace talks with the goal of forging a treaty within 13 months. President George W. Bush made the dramatic announcement at the opening of a 44-nation Middle East peace conference, with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas standing at his side. "The task begun here in Annapolis will be difficult. This is the beginning of the process not the end of it and no doubt a lot of work remains to be done. Yet the parties can approach this work with confidence. The time is right, the cause is just, and I know that with hard effort they can succeed," said Bush. Bush, unpopular because of the Iraq war and needing a legacy boost, arranged for a handshake between the two leaders next to the podium where he announced the agreement to start talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state. All smiles, the three leaders drew rounds of applause as they spoke to representatives gathered around a U-shaped table in a majestic hall at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, 32 miles (51 km) from Washington, D.C. Both Middle East leaders appealed directly in words to the other's people. By speaking in their native languages, both hoped also to get their messages across to skeptics among their own populations. Outside the talks, Palestinian aide Saeb Erakat told reporters that "the most important thing is tomorrow." The day after Annapolis is the resumption of the permanent status negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. It is not going to be an easy road. It's going to be a long, difficult road. Issues of Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, security is what make Israelis and Palestinians breathe," added Erekat. When asked whether Mahmoud Abbas has the authority to negotiate a settlement, his senior aide Nabil Abdu Rdainah, told Reuters that the voice of Palestinian people is more important than the Hamas of Fatah parties. "The minute we reach an agreement, we go to the Palestinian people. We are looking for a referendum," said Rdainah. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Daniel Gillerman, said that he was pleased that representatives from neighboring Arab countries decided to attend the summit. He cited Iran as the catalyst for their decision to attend. "What we're seeing here today in Annapolis is indeed a show of support of the Arab brethrens for the process in the face of the real danger which is Iran, Tehran, and that lunatic ranting president who is denying the Holocaust while preparing the next one," said Gillerman. Among the Arab "brethren" present at the summit was a delegation from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Ambassador the the United States Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that peace in the Middle East can only come through deeds, not words. "America had a great president once by the name of Harry Truman and he, his attitude was always 'Show me'," said al-Jubier. "We would like to to see the words translate into deeds and that's how one will judge this process" The accord emerged from lengthy, last-minute talks on a joint document meant to chart the course for negotiating the toughest "final status" issues of the conflict -- Jerusalem, borders, security and the fate of Palestinian refugees. Bush said the two sides agreed to try to reach an agreement by the end of 2008. Representatives from the two sides will hold a first session in the Middle East on Dec. 12 and Abbas and Olmert will meet every other week.

ITN Source | November 28, 2007

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